--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They got it wrong when they called it…" description: "\"“They got it wrong when they called it “the closet.\" This was a prison. Solitary confinement. I was locked inside, inside myself, dark and afraid and a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/julie-anne-peters-2961_closet_they-got-it-wrong-when-they-called-it-th_648320.png" --- # They got it wrong when they called it “the closet." This… ![“They got it wrong when they called it “the closet." This was a prison. Solitary confinement. I was locked inside, inside myself, dark and afraid and alone. (Chapter. 23)” quote by Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/julie-anne-peters-2961_closet_they-got-it-wrong-when-they-called-it-th_648320.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/julie-anne-peters-2961_closet_they-got-it-wrong-when-they-called-it-th_648320.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/julie-anne-peters-2961_closet_they-got-it-wrong-when-they-called-it-th_648320.png) > ““They got it wrong when they called it “the closet." This was a prison. Solitary confinement. I was locked inside, inside myself, dark and afraid and alone. (Chapter. 23)”” [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The closet metaphor illustrates how internalized shame and isolation imprison LGBTQ+ youth. **In simple terms:** Being forced to hide oneself feels like a prison. Key Takeaway Create supportive spaces for authentic self‑expression. Themes identity acceptance mental health Mood empathetic determined Type advocacy educational When to use this quote - school counseling - family discussions - community groups - online forums Key Concepts self‑discovery social stigma Questions to Reflect On - How can allies help break the isolation? - What steps foster personal safety? A Different Perspective Change in society may be slow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Called Closet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-closet-5190358/) [Closet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closet/) [Closet Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closet-prison-5190357/) [Prison Solitary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison-solitary-1633633/) [Solitary confinement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitary-confinement/) ## Related quotes > [The world is a prison in which solitary confinement is preferable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/the-world-is-a-prison-in-which-solitary-confinement-is-preferable/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [People aren't wired to be alone. Even in the stressful population of prison, solitary confinement is still considered a cruel punishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/people-aren-t-wired-to-be-alone-even-in-the-stressful-population-of/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [I'm wearing a put together from a little shop that I favor called The Back of My Closet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-m-wearing-a-put-together-from-a-little-shop-that-i-favor-called-the/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [“A closet is not a prison cell. There are no bars on the windows, locks on the doors, or shackles binding your feet. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-main/a-closet-is-not-a-prison-cell-there-are-no-bars-on-the-windows-locks/) [Darren Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-main/) > [“In August, Gehlen and a number of high-ranking colleagues were transported under Boker’s watch to Washington in the private plane of a US General…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/in-august-gehlen-and-a-number-of-high-ranking-colleagues-were/) [Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) > [“The world can understand well enough the process of perishing for want of food: perhaps few persons can enter into or follow out that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/the-world-can-understand-well-enough-the-process-of-perishing-for/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [As we have seen, WikiLeaks is a robust organization. During my time in solitary confinement in the basement of a Victorian prison, we continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/as-we-have-seen-wikileaks-is-a-robust-organization-during-my-time-in/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [“According to the Post, Immigration and Customs Enforcement maintains fifteen detention centers around the country and on any given day there are 35,000 people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/according-to-the-post-immigration-and-customs-enforcement-maintains/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [We're all of us sentenced to solitary confinement inside our own skins, for life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/we-re-all-of-us-sentenced-to-solitary-confinement-inside-our-own/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“Do you know how many men are incarcerated in solitary confinement? About 100,000 on any given day, if my numbers are correct. Do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-sudler/do-you-know-how-many-men-are-incarcerated-in-solitary-confinement/) [H.L. Sudler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-sudler/) > [“We now dwelt in a very large prison, without walls, bounded by Canada, Mexico and two oceans. There were the jailers, the turnkeys, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/we-now-dwelt-in-a-very-large-prison-without-walls-bounded-by-canada/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [Each man is his own prisoner, in solitary confinement for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/each-man-is-his-own-prisoner-in-solitary-confinement-for-life/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Damn it!” I rubbed my eyes. My head hurt from staring at the laptop screen the whole day. “I’ve got to put this down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-webster/damn-it-i-rubbed-my-eyes-my-head-hurt-from-staring-at-the-laptop/) [Chase Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-webster/) > [Something in our nature cries out to be loved by another. Isolation is devastating to the human psyche. That is why solitary confinement is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/something-in-our-nature-cries-out-to-be-loved-by-another-isolation-is/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [“But a punishment like forced labour or even imprisonment – mere loss of liberty – has never functioned without a certain additional element of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/but-a-punishment-like-forced-labour-or-even-imprisonment-mere-loss-of/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) ## More by Julie Anne Peters > [I don't have alot of people to talk to. Not alot of people are worth my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/i-don-t-have-alot-of-people-to-talk-to-not-alot-of-people-are-worth/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [You won't know until it's over. You won't find me in time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/you-won-t-know-until-it-s-over-you-won-t-find-me-in-time/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [And it’s more. It’s about getting past that question of whats wrong with me, to knowing there’s nothing wrong, that you were born this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/and-it-s-more-it-s-about-getting-past-that-question-of-whats-wrong/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [Stop trying to save me. You couldn't then; you can't now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/stop-trying-to-save-me-you-couldn-t-then-you-can-t-now/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [I'm scared. What will tomorrow bring? It has to be better than today. It has to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/i-m-scared-what-will-tomorrow-bring-it-has-to-be-better-than-today-it/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [“During those times, they'd stand there watching me watching them. I'd pray, please. Put a pillow to my face. Clench a hand around my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/during-those-times-they-d-stand-there-watching-me-watching-them-i-d/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [I may be fat and ugly, but I'm not stupid. If anyone had ever gotten past my looks, they might've noticed I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/i-may-be-fat-and-ugly-but-i-m-not-stupid-if-anyone-had-ever-gotten/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [Our eyes met across the crowded room, like in the movies, except we didn't share a knowing smile and race into each other's arms.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/our-eyes-met-across-the-crowded-room-like-in-the-movies-except-we/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [“I can't. I don't trust people anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/i-can-t-i-don-t-trust-people-anymore/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [I want to tell them, "Chip, Kim, there is no way to suicide-proof a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/i-want-to-tell-them-chip-kim-there-is-no-way-to-suicide-proof-a-person/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [I throw him two bones: a smile and a nod. Both lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/i-throw-him-two-bones-a-smile-and-a-nod-both-lies/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [“Sometimes I felt as if there were no tomorrows, that everything, my whole life, was crammed into one long day. A continuos stretch of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/sometimes-i-felt-as-if-there-were-no-tomorrows-that-everything-my/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [“I wanted to be with her, like all the time. Eliminate the obstacles, the people and things in our lives that were keeping us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/i-wanted-to-be-with-her-like-all-the-time-eliminate-the-obstacles-the/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [“My name, from his lips. It still made my heart leap.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/my-name-from-his-lips-it-still-made-my-heart-leap/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [What I know is you can't go back. You can't press delete and re-key your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/what-i-know-is-you-can-t-go-back-you-can-t-press-delete-and-re-key/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) [Explore all 143 Julie Anne Peters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) ## More Closet quotes > [For so long, for my whole life I didn't have to but I lived in the closet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-evans/for-so-long-for-my-whole-life-i-didn-t-have-to-but-i-lived-in-the/) [Scott Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-evans/) > [I own about 300 pairs of shoes. When I start to go over 300, I have mini-sales from my closet and give the money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/i-own-about-300-pairs-of-shoes-when-i-start-to-go-over-300-i-have/) [Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/) > [I'm not big on the closet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-butler/i-m-not-big-on-the-closet/) [Dan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-butler/) > [There's a she wolf in the closet, Let it out so it can breathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/there-s-a-she-wolf-in-the-closet-let-it-out-so-it-can-breathe/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [It's important for closet gay athletes everywhere, not just at the professional level, but more importantly athletes at the younger level in high school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-fujita/it-s-important-for-closet-gay-athletes-everywhere-not-just-at-the/) [Scott Fujita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-fujita/) > [I feel like I've been shut in a closet, and he's on the other side, and he doesn't have the key to unlock the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-feel-like-i-ve-been-shut-in-a-closet-and-he-s-on-the-other-side-and/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“The truth has a way of coming out of the closet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/march-lions/the-truth-has-a-way-of-coming-out-of-the-closet/) [March Lions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/march-lions/) > [People dance and we have a lot of music and... this might be the closet I get for a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-crowe/people-dance-and-we-have-a-lot-of-music-and-this-might-be-the-closet/) [Cameron Crowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-crowe/) > [The emails and the tweets and the Facebook posts and the fan mail that we get from young people all over America that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-donovan/the-emails-and-the-tweets-and-the-facebook-posts-and-the-fan-mail/) [Trevor Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-donovan/) > [She up in the closet!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madea/she-up-in-the-closet/) [Madea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madea/) > [A lot of the stuff I was on 'All Stars,' it wasn't new, it was all stuff out of my closet and stuff that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-devayne/a-lot-of-the-stuff-i-was-on-all-stars-it-wasn-t-new-it-was-all-stuff/) [Chi Chi DeVayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-devayne/) > [Friends are readily disappointed by the size of my closet. And I thought it was big!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jessica-parker/friends-are-readily-disappointed-by-the-size-of-my-closet-and-i/) [Sarah Jessica Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jessica-parker/) > [“My closet’s so full of memories and fearful homosexuals that I have nowhere to hang my clothes. Well, that and I don’t know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/my-closet-s-so-full-of-memories-and-fearful-homosexuals-that-i-have/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“We’re not broken. We’re not in the wrong bodies. We’re not inadequate. We’re not lesser. We’re not unwanted. We’re not fraudulent. We’re not undesirable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnostic-zetetic/we-re-not-broken-we-re-not-in-the-wrong-bodies-we-re-not-inadequate/) [Agnostic Zetetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnostic-zetetic/) > [I've never seen so many sweater sets...are you sure this is a closet and not a portal to the 1950s? -Renee Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desperate-housewives/i-ve-never-seen-so-many-sweater-sets-are-you-sure-this-is-a-closet/) [Desperate Housewives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desperate-housewives/) [Browse all 425 Closet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closet/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They got it wrong when they called it “the closet.\" This was a prison. Solitary confinement. I was locked inside, inside myself, dark and afraid and alone. 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