Closet queen is a slang term for a homosexual male who does not admit that he is a homosexual. He may not tell his friends or family members about his true sexuality. In some cases, he might not even admit his true sexuality to himself.
It’s believed that the term closet queen was first used in 1967. It is a combination of the term closet, meaning a state of secrecy, and queen, a slang term for a homosexual man.
A closet queen may also be called a closet case or a closet homosexual.