Glossary
Repressor
An informal, descriptive term for someone who suppresses or denies their own same-sex attraction or gender identity, usually out of shame, fear, or outside pressure.
Repressor is not an established or widely used LGBTQ+ label but an informal, descriptive way to name a person who buries their own sexual orientation or gender identity rather than acknowledging it. The pattern it points to is real and well documented: internalized homophobia, religious teaching, family expectations, or fear of rejection can push someone to stay closeted, to publicly identify as straight while having private same-sex experiences, or in some cases to act hostile toward LGBTQ+ people as a defense. Psychologists describe this as repression or denial, and research links it to shame and minority stress. The healthier path, supported by affirming counseling, is self acceptance rather than concealment.