Bei Chugui (被出柜)

Bei chugui — literally “to be come-outed,” the passive voice of chugui (coming out of the closet) — is Chinese for what English calls outing: having your sexual orientation or gender identity disclosed by someone else, without your consent. It happens through gossip relayed between friends, a parent going through a phone, a well-meaning relative who “helped you say it,” or public exposure online.

Why it cuts so deep: coming out is supposed to be paced by the person it concerns — you read your own situation, choose the moment, choose the audience. Being outed strips away both the pacing and the safety margin, dropping you into consequences you never got to prepare for: family conflict, exposure at school or work, sometimes genuine risk to your safety.

If it has happened to you: it is not your fault. Check whether your immediate situation is safe (see the safety guide), find at least one person you can talk to (see support resources) — and remember you still decide who else hears it, and how much. For everyone else, one rule: never out someone, however good the intention.

Register note: community and media usage; responsible media do not out people.

Common misreading: “they’d have come out eventually anyway.” Coming out is not an obligation and has no deadline — the timing belongs to the person alone. Safety first; it can wait.