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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Long. WWYD? Keep the family peace or stick by principles?

114 replies

sterrryerryoh · 23/02/2011 22:46

Will try to keep this brief.
Had a housewarming party - friends & family invited. My Uncle (Mum's Brother) asked if he could bring along some other family members - his wife's brother, SIL and their kids as they are staying with my uncle and auntie. I kind of know them through various social functions, big party, no probs, so said yes.

Party in full swing. Everyone happy. Two of my friends are gay men - they are great friends but not together. One (let's call him Paddy) is in his 60's and (in his own words) "an outrageous queen" - very camp, overtly gay, flamboyant, wonderful man. My other gay friend (let's call him Phil) is in his early 40's, drop dead gorgeous, not in the closet at all, but also not obviously gay iyswim. I would go so far as to say he's actually quite blokey, to the point that people are often surprised when they realise he's gay

So Paddy has left the room, Phil still there. My auntie's family start making really homophobic jokes about Paddy. won't repeat them here, but very obvious and distasteful. (I wasn't in the room at the time) - i came back in, to hear Phil say to them that he doesn't appreciate their humour, and can they please stop it. They all laugh, and carry on regardless. I am about to say something, when Phil says again that he's not comfortable with the humour and will take it personally if they don't stop it.

one of them then says "Why - you're not an arse-bandit are you?" to which Phil replies "If you're asking if I'm gay, not that it's any of your business, but yes"
(Paddy had entered at this point) - they all start really going for it with the homophobic comments. Long story short: Paddy gets really upset and leaves before it gets too much. Phil gets really angry and leaves before he hits one of them. I try desperately to get my friends to stay, but to no avail.

So, I then asked my auntie's relatives to leave. I was very calm, and matter of fact, but I told them that they were not welcome in my house, that their actions had caused two of my very good friends to feel uncomfortable to the point of leaving, and that, as they were not even invited, that i didn't want them there any more. It all kicked off a bit and they accused me of having no sense of humour!! Hmm and it got a bit verbally heated, so my Uncle stepped in and said that HE and my auntie and cousins would also have to leave, as they were all together, and I said "fine - go then"

They booked taxis and I asked them to wait outside (party was still going on). My uncle said "Us too?" and I replied "No, you can wait inside if you like, but I'm not having them in my house" He then said "They are my guests, and I'm staying with them" and I said "Fine, they're not mine. Go outside then", and they all waited outside for about 20 minutes.
My Uncle has now given my what I can only describe as an ultimatum - if I don't apologise to both his brother in law and their family, AND to him, my auntie and cousins, then I will no longer be a welcome guest at their house.
(Massive family, lots of functions, will have an impact on our family and social life)
I am sticking by my guns and will not apologise to my auntie's family who can stick it. But I don't know whether or not to meet my uncle halfway and concede that maybe I shouldn't have kicked my uncle/auntie/cousins out as well, as they had nothing to do with the scene.

I know it's a WWYD - but WWYD????

OP posts:
ddubsgirl · 23/02/2011 22:49

they were out of order,it was your home you asked them to stop they didnt,unless they say sorry to you & your friends i wouldnt have anything to do with them

BluddyMoFo · 23/02/2011 22:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sterrryerryoh · 23/02/2011 22:52

I shan't ever have anything to do with my auntie's brother et al again. never. They are vile, loathsome people and I stand by kicking them out. But I'm a bit on the fence regrading my uncle/auntie/cousins etc - I may have snapped at them, and they did look a sorry sight waiting out in the cold for a taxi.

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Pancakeflipper · 23/02/2011 22:53

I wouldn't be apologising.. In fact I'd be waiting for the florist to turn up with a large bouquet of flowers from the homophobs as an apology to me....

Let the dust settle a little and then try to have a reasonable grown-up discussion on why you were upset and why you asked them to leave. It was your home and your friends

DorisIsAPinkDragon · 23/02/2011 22:53

It will be really hard but I think I would stick by my principles.

You didn't kick your family out they chose to go with their ignorant relations, their choice. If anyone should apologise it should be the distant relations, they were homophobic and offensive causing two of your friends to leave, this was after recieving a warning that they were being offensive.

Is the rest of your family pressuring you to resolve the situation?

sterrryerryoh · 23/02/2011 22:54

Well, I've apologised to my friends, but I won't be asking for an apology from the "guests" as i won't be talking to them again.
I'm really quite angry that my Uncle didn't pull them up on their behaviour

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ThreIsNoSpoon · 23/02/2011 22:55

Stick by your principles. You said they could stay in the house. they CHOSE to wait outside and stand by people who were rue to you and your other guests. Dont apologise.

nancydrewfoundaclue · 23/02/2011 22:56

You didn't kick them out though did you?

They refused to stay on the basis that you had kicked their family out.

Which incidentally was the absolutely right thing to do (in case you didn't know Smile )

DorisIsAPinkDragon · 23/02/2011 22:56

Sadly if he didn't pull them on their behaviour he may well harbour less than attractive sentiments towards gay people.

tinierclanger · 23/02/2011 22:56

You didn't ask your auntie and uncle to leave and you have nothing to apologise for. They should be apologising to you for the behaviour of their guests.

What does your mum think of it all?

sterrryerryoh · 23/02/2011 22:56

Doris: getting a bit of pressure family-wise, yes. I get the feeling that they all think I made a mountain out of a molehill - but I bloody didn't, and I'm not putting up with that kind of crap from anyone!

It will change the dynamic of our family in many ways, if I'm not "welcome" - and I really feel as though i've done nothing wrong. My principles tell me that even to talk to my Uncle would be like admitting I over-reacted. And I didn't - but would obviously have preferred that they hadn't got caught up in the cross fire

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poochela · 23/02/2011 22:57

Tell your uncle/auntie that you stick by what you said to the others but you do regret him/auntie ending up outside too. I think it's fair enough to be the bigger person and apologise for that but not for standing up for your friends - that should be applauded.

Standing up to strangers is hard enough but it's even harder to stand up to family. Good for you.

PandaNot · 23/02/2011 22:58

I wouldn't be apologising but then I'm known in my family for cutting off my nose to spite my face sticking to my principles. I would be expecting an apology from them.

HecateQueenOfWitches · 23/02/2011 22:59

No. I would most certainly NOT be apologising. They owe your friends an apology for causing offence and they owe you an apology too, because they caused embarrassment to you in your home.

Family means sod all. It's an accident of birth and you owe them nothing. If your uncle etc don't want to talk to you again, fine. They chose to side with those vile people. They made their choice. Sod 'em.

LoopyLoopsHulaHoops · 23/02/2011 22:59

Explain why you won't apologise.

Was the uncle there for the horrible comments? Make sure he knows exactly what was said. If he still wants you to apologise, he doesn't deserve your company. If he understands by this point why you won't apologise, all sorted.

sterrryerryoh · 23/02/2011 23:00

tinier: Mum wasn't in the room, and didn't really witness anything (also was a bit pissed!!) She loves Phil and Paddy, and has known them a long time, but she also socialises frequently with her brother and the extended family bigots. My Mum is not homophobic, but would pretty much just try and keep the peace I think. ie, if it had been her she'd probably not have asked them all to leave, but simmered inwardly.
I suspect she would just like me to go and offer an olive branch, but i feel really uncomfortable doing that
What a shit position I've been put in, but I thank you all for the perspectives here. I'm right not to back down on this, and actually, my Uncle can sod off if he's going to "disown" me over this!

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HecateQueenOfWitches · 23/02/2011 23:00

They didn't get caught in the crossfire, they chose these people over you. They could have condemned them too. They could have stayed inside. They chose to side with them against you and therefore condone the ignorant way your friends were treated. You owe them nothing.

edam · 23/02/2011 23:01

well done.

Agree with poochela, no backing down on the overt homophobes, but may be worth offering an olive branch to your uncle if you can stomach it - although as others have said, he CHOSE to go outside, you didn't make him.

curlymama · 23/02/2011 23:02

I would want to stick entirely by my principles, their behaviour was outrageous!

But for the sake of family harmony, I'd probably say something like 'I'm sorry the party ended badly for you', rather than 'I'm sorry I threw you out of my house'.

edam · 23/02/2011 23:03

Yay sterry! I am actually really pleased you are sticking to your guns. Even if meeting your uncle half way would make your life a little less difficult.

SpringchickenGoldBrass · 23/02/2011 23:03

Remember that your uncle's horrid associates insulted your guests in your home when you hadn't even invited them. Stand by your principles and well done for throwing them out in the first place.

Earthymama · 23/02/2011 23:04

I just want to say, Well done, your friends are so lucky to have you in their lives and I'm sure they appreciate your support.

Vicky2011 · 23/02/2011 23:04

That wld be a deal breaker for me I'm afraid. You are completely in the right and should be expecting apologies to come your way.

Remind me what year this is??

sterrryerryoh · 23/02/2011 23:05

No, my uncle wasn't in the room during the first lot of comments, but once Phil had asked them to stop and they'd ascertained that he was gay too, and the next wave of attacks came, he heard those.
The trouble is, and I apologise if this sounds like a mass generalisation, this side of my family are solid working class ex-miners who have led insular lives, low-education, all-white environments and a very low tolerance for difference - a bit alf garnetty. Very working-mens-clubby. That is NOT to say that all ex-miners etc are like this, but their specific backgrounds have an ingrained sense of EDL-ishness about them.
My Uncle has never expressed homophobic views in front of me, but i suspect he sympathises with his brother in law's opinions over mine

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sterrryerryoh · 23/02/2011 23:09

you know what? fek it. I've had enough of this crap from my family - I've been teased all my life for being a book-worm, going to Uni etc, like it's something to be ashamed of. I'm a grown woman, and they can piss off.
I'm not having it any more. Thanks to all of you have posted, I shall definitely NOT be backing down on this, I'll phone my uncle and tell him exactly why I did what I did, and feel the way i feel, and he can suck it if he doesn't want me in his life. You're right, Hecate, just because he's related to my Mum by an accident of birth doesn't mean i should allow myself to be bullied.
Writing it down and getting some perspective really helps. I shall tell him in no uncertain terms that there will be no apology from me, and it's up to him what he does with that

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