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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:
edam · 23/02/2011 23:09

sterrry - I know what you mean. Often it's just because they haven't got to know anyone from whatever group it is they are bitching about, though - have been very impressed by an old family friend of ours from exactly that background who has become much more accepting. In the 70s and 80s I remember him joking about 'backs against the wall' and all that. Since then he's got to know people from different backgrounds and has become much more tolerant.

goingmadinthecountry · 23/02/2011 23:11

Good for you. A rift between me and sil has meany mil chose not to see her youngest grandchild on her birthday and doesn't know other family news (dd1 and driving test etc) despite just living up the road. Hey ho. It's nice not putting up with other people's crap views. Your friends sound a damn sight nicer than the uninnvited relatives.

sterrryerryoh · 23/02/2011 23:14

edam - that's great. That just shows how people can move on in the right environment.
My cousin (this Uncle's son) terrifies me. He wasn't at the party, fortunately, but he's in the army and is a paid up member of the BNP. I have him on facebook - really want to delete him, but I feel a bit "know-your-enemy" about him, as he puts the most sickening comments on his pages - racist, homophobic, sexist bullshit all the time. he quotes hitler, and supports the EDL wholeheartedly. I can't quite believe that he didn't get some of those opinions from his home-life, and I suspect that they all think I'm some wishy-washy liberal tree-hugger as opposed to someone, well, normal!

OP posts:
Maryz · 23/02/2011 23:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

plupedantic · 23/02/2011 23:23

So your uncle has issued an ultimatum. However, responding to that ultimatum is playing it his way. So are you able to ignore his ultimatum, unless he brings up this subject again? It's likely you've been dis-invited to their gay-bashing soirees for the future, anyway, so you'd not lose anything by not responding now. In fact, your parting shot was pretty good - why try to top it? He knows what you feel and if you never say another word to him again, that's not backing down.

needafootmassage · 23/02/2011 23:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Grumpla · 23/02/2011 23:31

Stick to your guns Sterrry. If you apologise 'to keep the peace' you will regret it.

It's not a trivial, unimportant issue. They felt able to continue with their appalling behaviour, in your home, even after they had been confronted and asked to stop. So what lengths would they take that behaviour to if nobody had confronted them? If they were, say, walking home from the pub after a few drinks rather than in a 'nice' family party. It might sound overdramatic but people in this country are still being murdered because of their sexuality. People like your uncle are complicit and your background is no fucking excuse.

foreverondiet · 23/02/2011 23:31

I would say to aunt and uncle that you are very sad around the circumstances - ie that they felt they had to leave, and that you were sorry about that.

But say that whilst you can apologise to him, sorry you just can't apologise to the BIL, because you are mortified about the way that he acted. If anything the BIL should apologise to you, he was rude to your friends at a party he wasn't really invited to.

ie meet halfway but don't compromise on your principles.

Vallhala · 23/02/2011 23:40

Bloody good for you for sticking to your principles and 10/10 for not physically putting them all outside of the house because I'd have been damn well tempted to were I in your shoes!

I hope that Paddy and Phil are okay now.

muminthemiddle · 23/02/2011 23:49

I agree with maryz.

Tortoiseonthehalfshell · 23/02/2011 23:49

Agree entirely with plupedantic - no need to write to your uncle, you've already said your say.

And well bloody done, both for sticking up for your friends at the time and for sticking to your guns now. I can't imagine how it must feel to be gay and have to watch, again and again, as your nice tolerant friends let homophobic crap go "to keep the peace". Death by a thousand cuts, it must be.

FabbyChic · 23/02/2011 23:54

Stick to your principles, any guest in your home should not be abused by another guest no matter who they are and what family connections they have.

outnumbered2to1 · 23/02/2011 23:59

no offence but your uncle sounds like a complete knob. Ask yourself this - if he has happy to listen to his BIL spout racist / homophobic bile do you really want to be invited to his house?

You shouldn't apologise as you have nothing to apologise for. Not only should your uncle be begging your forgiveness for his arsehole BIL, but also for the having more cheek than a rhino for demanding you apologise to the homophobic b'stard in the first place.

TrailMix · 24/02/2011 00:04

Your uncle brought those horrid people into your home, stood by and watched as they insulted your friends, and then marched out into the street to wait in sympathy with them for the taxi. I'm unclear why you should apologise to him in any way, shape or form.

He should have been cringing and asking for forgiveness at the party - sorry this happened, sorry your friends were upset, sorry I brought these people over and look what happened.

Your uncle is perfecty welcome to his homophobia, if that's why he can't apologise for his lack of manners. But you shouldn't have to put up with it anymore.

I'd tell your uncle he can either apologise for the mess his wife's family made of your party and the hurt done to your friends, or he is no longer welcome in your home.

zipzap · 24/02/2011 00:14

Not sure how your uncle issued his ultimatum to you (phone? letter?) but I'd be sending one back in the other direction...

more along the lines of:

'I was very surprised that you are asking me to apologise; I was expecting your phone call/letter/whatever to be an apology from your guests for spoiling a special party evening, insulting my very good friends and causing embarrassment to you (their host) and me (their host of hosts).

Your guests ruined a lovely party with their continuing insistence on being rude to my very good friends despite being asked several times to stop and given opportunities to apologise before I ended up having to ask them to leave so as not to spoil the party for all the guests.

That you chose to stay outside with your guests rather than remain inside shows that you obviously look after your guests, however this was your choice, you knew you were welcome to stay at the party for as long as you wanted. It is just a shame that your wife's relatives did not pay the same respect to my guests when they were guests themselves instead escalating their rudeness and creating heighten tension for everybody.

I look forward to receiving yours and their apologies forthwith so that we can put all their unpleasantness behind us and be family again. I feel very sad that their ignorance and rudeness has caused such problems but I cannot see how you expect me to apologise for their failings.'

Jacksmania · 24/02/2011 00:31

Zipzap - bloody brilliant. Sterry, mail/email this to them!!! (And then report back on their response :o.)

Hecate - your phrase "an accident of birth" is what I've been saying for years now (about members of my family) and people always look at me Hmm. It's the plain truth however.

sterrryerryoh · 24/02/2011 00:38

some brilliant advice... thanks all.. love the email - I think I'll send it as a letter!

OP posts:
Rhinestone · 24/02/2011 00:49

DO NOT SAY SORRY!!!!

You handled the whole situation bloody PERFECTLY in my opinion!

Love zipzap's email - just don't, at any point, say sorry!

And by the way, serving soldiers are not allowed to be members of any political party. 'Tis against Queen's Regs. Not that I'm suggesting you shop him in. Grin But if someone were to do that they would need to speak to the Adjutant of his regiment / battalion.

MadamDeathstare · 24/02/2011 02:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

echt · 24/02/2011 05:40

Good for you,sterry. Stick to your guns. Your behaviour was exemplary.

zipzap's suggested form of words is excellent.

I hope Paddy and Phil are fine.

EmmaBGoode · 24/02/2011 05:59

Don't you DARE apologise Angry

justcarrots29 · 24/02/2011 07:22

Who would want to continue contact with people like that - argh Angry. Well done - you did the right thing. Stick to your guns. They were in the wrong not you. Please keep us posted on what happens!

FreudianSlippery · 24/02/2011 07:32

OMG. What horrible horrible people! Angry

Stick to your guns. If your uncle doesn't condone his family's homophobic behaviour, he's just as bad as them.

wordfactory · 24/02/2011 07:39

I feel your pain.

Members of my extended family are homophobic, racist, anti-semetic, sexist...you name it.

It is awful, and every time I visit and hear their vileness I feel disloyal to all my friends. I only put up with it for my Mum who is fabulous, but feels we should tolerate the BS for the sake of family togetherness.

If I made a fuss it would have repercussions on her, and I feel that would be unfair.

However, I will never have any of these people in my house. On that I draw the line.

CupAndSaucer · 24/02/2011 07:51

Sterry, I think you handled the situation very well, and you have nothing to apologise for. Good for you!