The Last Closet tells the stories of lesbian and gay educators as they struggle for dignity in the face of homophobia. These stories come from over a hundred lesbian, gay, and bisexual women and men who are, or have been, teachers, counselors, librarians, and administrators across the country. Rita Kissen, who began her research after her lesbian daughter became a teacher, uses both narration and description to capture the texture and tone of these teachers' daily lives. The Last Closet describes the struggles of educators caught between their desire for authenticity and their need for safety - a need that forces most of them to hide a significant part of their identity.Kissen also suggests survival strategies for lesbian and gay educators and offers advice for heterosexual parents, teachers, and administrators who want to make their schools and communities inclusive and safe for all.