diff --git a/branch.sql b/branch.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..20c086f178
--- /dev/null
+++ b/branch.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+BEGIN;
+
+    ALTER TABLE participants ADD COLUMN is_closed bool NOT NULL DEFAULT FALSE;
+
+END;
diff --git a/gittip/models/account_elsewhere.py b/gittip/models/account_elsewhere.py
index 9b2da78bc1..0e3b23739a 100644
--- a/gittip/models/account_elsewhere.py
+++ b/gittip/models/account_elsewhere.py
@@ -154,6 +154,8 @@ def opt_in(self, desired_username):
                 user.participant.change_username(desired_username)
             except ProblemChangingUsername:
                 pass
+        if user.participant.is_closed:
+            user.participant.update_is_closed(False)
         return user, newly_claimed
 
     def save_token(self, token, refresh_token=None, expires=None):
diff --git a/gittip/models/participant.py b/gittip/models/participant.py
index b7cc85bcc2..2005d2f774 100644
--- a/gittip/models/participant.py
+++ b/gittip/models/participant.py
@@ -274,6 +274,7 @@ def cancel(self, disbursement_strategy):
             self.clear_tips_giving(cursor)
             self.clear_tips_receiving(cursor)
             self.clear_personal_information(cursor)
+            self.update_is_closed(True, cursor)
 
             return self.archive(cursor)
 
@@ -551,6 +552,25 @@ def update_goal(self, goal):
                   )
         self.set_attributes(goal=goal)
 
+    def update_is_closed(self, is_closed, cursor=None):
+        ctx = None
+        if cursor is None:
+            ctx = self.db.get_cursor()
+            cursor = ctx.__enter__()
+        try:
+            cursor.run( "UPDATE participants SET is_closed=%(is_closed)s "
+                        "WHERE username=%(username)s"
+                      , dict(username=self.username, is_closed=is_closed)
+                       )
+            add_event( cursor
+                     , 'participant'
+                     , dict(id=self.id, action='set', values=dict(is_closed=is_closed))
+                      )
+            self.set_attributes(is_closed=is_closed)
+        finally:
+            if ctx is not None:
+                ctx.__exit__(None, None, None)
+
 
     def set_tip_to(self, tippee, amount, cursor=None):
         """Given a Participant or username, and amount as str, return a tuple.
diff --git a/tests/py/test_cancel.py b/tests/py/test_cancel.py
index 514e1f4219..9f6cca97d5 100644
--- a/tests/py/test_cancel.py
+++ b/tests/py/test_cancel.py
@@ -293,3 +293,30 @@ def test_cpi_clears_teams(self):
             alice.clear_personal_information(cursor)
 
         assert len(team.get_takes()) == 1
+
+
+    # uic = update_is_closed
+
+    def test_uic_updates_is_closed(self):
+        alice = self.make_participant('alice')
+        alice.update_is_closed(True)
+
+        assert alice.is_closed
+        assert Participant.from_username('alice').is_closed
+
+    def test_uic_updates_is_closed_False(self):
+        alice = self.make_participant('alice')
+        alice.update_is_closed(True)
+        alice.update_is_closed(False)
+
+        assert not alice.is_closed
+        assert not Participant.from_username('alice').is_closed
+
+    def test_uic_uses_supplied_cursor(self):
+        alice = self.make_participant('alice')
+
+        with self.db.get_cursor() as cursor:
+            alice.update_is_closed(True, cursor)
+            assert alice.is_closed
+            assert not Participant.from_username('alice').is_closed
+        assert Participant.from_username('alice').is_closed
diff --git a/tests/py/test_elsewhere.py b/tests/py/test_elsewhere.py
index d5351b48c3..cdd11969dc 100644
--- a/tests/py/test_elsewhere.py
+++ b/tests/py/test_elsewhere.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 from gittip.elsewhere import UserInfo
 from gittip.models.account_elsewhere import AccountElsewhere
+from gittip.models.participant import Participant
 from gittip.testing import Harness
 import gittip.testing.elsewhere as user_info_examples
 
@@ -33,6 +34,13 @@ def test_opt_in_doesnt_have_to_change_username(self):
         actual = account.opt_in('bob')[0].participant.username
         assert actual == expected
 
+    def test_opt_in_resets_is_closed_to_false(self):
+        alice = self.make_elsewhere('twitter', 1, 'alice')
+        alice.participant.update_is_closed(True)
+        user = alice.opt_in('alice')[0]
+        assert not user.participant.is_closed
+        assert not Participant.from_username('alice').is_closed
+
     def test_redirect_csrf(self):
         response = self.client.GxT('/on/github/redirect')
         assert response.code == 405