Closeted Conservatives: The New Meaning of "Black Sheep"

Recently, I attended our first chapter meeting of the Conservative Women of North Carolina sorority and was pleasantly surprised by the conversation. Separated by wine and cheese at our dinner table were two groups with vastly different life experiences. Although the seating arrangements were unintentional, it served as a powerful reminder that we “closeted conservatives” are not alone.

On one side of the table sat women raised by conservative parents, always surrounded by traditional values. On my side were those of us who feared being disinvited from Christmas if we revealed our support for the Republican Party. We discussed how the so-called “party of tolerance” has transformed into the “party of cancel culture.” Many of us had once identified as liberals—until we felt the liberal agenda veered off course.

It seems ironic that in 2025, counterculture now means aspiring to get married and have children, rejecting gender ideology, and recognizing that the government doesn't always have your best interests at heart. This craving for tradition and rationality feels perfectly sensible, but for many, it leads to being shunned by family and friends.

Standing up for your beliefs, especially when they deviate from what you've been spoon-fed for years, can be incredibly challenging. The sting is real when people label you as racist, unempathetic, or uneducated.

However, after a few hours of conversation, I realized I am not alone in this proverbial closet. For every person who wants to “shun” me, there are ten others ready to welcome me with open arms into a sisterhood of support. You are not alone. And when you step out of that closet, suddenly there’s so much more room to breathe.

Xoxo, 

A Once Closeted Conservative