A Bit Fruity with Matt Bernstein Why Is Everyone Going Back Into the Closet?
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Jun 27, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Kat Tenbarge, a journalist at Spitfire News focused on LGBTQ+ issues, explores the unsettling trend of people returning to the closet. She dives into the complex relationship between online fame and queer identity, featuring case studies like Lohanthony. The conversation reveals the nuanced implications of conversion therapy, both historical and modern. It examines societal pressures, the impact of pop culture, and the critical need for empathy and acceptance in the LGBTQ+ community.
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Lohanthony's Transformation Story
- Lohanthony was a prominent early 2010s YouTube star known for flamboyance and outness as a gay teenager.
- He later renounced his queer identity, embracing Trump-supporting gospel music and Christian celibacy.
Conversion Therapy's Modern Facade
- Modern "conversion therapy" reframes sexuality as a behavior or addiction that can be controlled, not an innate identity.
- This approach makes it easier to disguise and self-opt into harmful practices without appearing coercive.
Child Viral Fame Can Harm
- Early viral queer children on social media face unintended trauma and bigotry as they grow up in the public eye.
- The viral fame of young queer kids often leads to scrutiny and can contribute to later renunciation or repression of identity.
