The closet and coming out are key concepts in the sociology of sexualities and in lesbian and gay studies. The closet refers to the systematic repression of homosexuality. The closet exists when the state, science, the media, the criminal justice system, and other social institutions (school, family, etc.) work concertedly to construct homosexuality as a pathological social threat, and to institutionalize heterosexuality as the only $@#*^%#@#ldquo;normal$@#*^%#@#rdquor; and legitimate sexuality. Coming out refers to the individual and/or collective disclosure of homosexual identity as a way of combating the closet and its effects.