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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

brother won't invite my (gay) partner to his wedding to avoid upsetting my mother

139 replies

lateblooming · 23/12/2014 16:29

My brother has so far been supporting of my lesbian relationship and we even stayed at his place.
It is not the case for my mother who holds the view that this is against the bible and a social shame.
Bro is getting married but told my gf is not welcomed as he wants to keep the peace. I think that this is his own marriage and he should be the one deciding on the guest list whether or not it pleases mama. I would like him to get a bit of balls to stand up against mama's tyranny...and against discrimination
Obviously if I was in a relationship with a man nobody would object.
Many cousins want to meet her and this would have been perfectGrin
I decided to drop it anyway and choose a better time to confront her.
She told me to 'watch what I am saying' when I Skype her at Christmas time as my aunty will be around. Angry

OP posts:
Enlli · 23/12/2014 21:32

Five hours since this thread started but correct me if I have missed something but has the OP been back at all?

lateblooming · 23/12/2014 21:34

I felt quite challenged reading your replies:

yes mother is controlling, and we tend to give her her own way. Tried to please her for a long time and I have now realised it is impossible.

DB's marriage is not the place to confront, I want him to have a nice day. So so far I am thinking of going, I will just have to mention that my other half is not here

@ the ones who suggested it: just did something maaaad and sent an Merry Christmas message with pics of me and DP, kill the rumour in my conservative family it is all in the open!

DP told me it took a very long time for her family to accept when she came out so she was very understanding, just thinking DB is bending over backward for mum and should think about the implications of his stance.
I don't expect DP to like my mother when she gets to meet her.

OP posts:
Enlli · 23/12/2014 21:36

How ling have you and your DP been together?

Enlli · 23/12/2014 21:36

long even Smile

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 23/12/2014 21:39

That jangled with me as well, Mintyy, I thought it was a very odd and controlling thing to say.

lateblooming · 23/12/2014 21:45

Me and DP have been together for 2 years...as long as my bro and his fiancée. Mum refused to meet DP.

OP posts:
GoodKingQuintless · 23/12/2014 21:45

I dont think a wedding is the right place for a "coming out" or gay rights proclamation.

I also think that mother of the bride/groom trumps siblings girlfriend/boyfriend.

I further think it matters how long they have been together.

It could be seen as a "sorry, no new girlfriend/boyfriend that the family has not met" situation rather than a "lets keep the lesbian" out.

GoodKingQuintless · 23/12/2014 21:46

2 years is a fairly stable relationship, so not a new girlfriend then.

Sorry your mum is a homophobic controlling old bat.

Enlli · 23/12/2014 21:47

The email/card thing ......well done. Smile

workingtitle · 23/12/2014 21:49

Well done, lateblooming I hope your family are supportive and that they embrace your DP.

Fairylea · 23/12/2014 21:52

Well done re the Christmas message thing, I think that's brilliant.

Bowchickawowow · 23/12/2014 22:00

Why is the OP going to a family event with her partner a"gay rights proclamation"Hmm
Why do we act as if treating gay people the same as everyone else is some sort of special favour?!

JollyJingle · 23/12/2014 22:03

That's just awful of your mother! But I guess it's your DBs day and that's what's important. If you want to go and your partner doesn't mind then go and keep the peace.

However introduce your DP to all the other members of your family at a time when your mother isn't there or is too embarrassed to make a fool of herself.

Queenofwands · 23/12/2014 22:04

Lying witch...selfish! Are you taking the piss? did the OP ask to be treated like crap by her Mother and have her brother reinforce that? The reactions on this thread have shocked me because they are homophobic.

BoneyBackJefferson · 23/12/2014 22:07

Good for you lateblooming

Mintyy · 23/12/2014 22:10

Ffs, being with a same sex partner is not a "gay rights proclomation" - what an absurb thing to say. Incase you haven't caught up, Quint, "gays" have all the "rights" they need these days.

If your mother would accept a male partner of two years at the wedding (and why, remind me, is it her choice AT ALL?) but she won't accept a female partner ... then don't go yourself. Reassure your brother that you love him, but you can't allow yourself to be treated in such a shabby manner.

GoodKingQuintless · 23/12/2014 22:17

Not with OPs mum they dont, Mintyy, and that is what I meant.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 23/12/2014 22:19

It's not the OP that irritated me Queen it was some of your post, I'll explain what I meant (apologies for the numbering, it just helps me):

1. Tell your Brother you won't be going to the wedding because you are the one who will have to deal with a girlfriend who would be humiliated if you went alone.
The girlfriend would not be humiliated by her partner either attending the wedding alone or not going at all. It's a family wedding and presumably, the girlfriend would not want to lay down the law for that reason. Well, I wouldn't - I might be a bit hurt and I might urge my girlfriend to really sort this crap out with her mother but, make a fuss on my brother's wedding day? Not on your nelly.

2. And tell him to make sure that he tells his friends the reason you are not there is because he didn't invite your girlfriend.
Another instruction for the brother. Why does he have to tell his friends anything on his wedding day? OP has access presumably to all of the guests, including family, and can do so herself.

3. Also tell him that you expect he will have a bit of bridge building with your partner., you wouldn't blame her if she chose not to have anything to do with him.
Yet another instruction for the brother. Anybody telling me that I have 'bridge building' to do for fear of the girlfriend not forgiving him, thereby coming between brother and sister would find themselves very much outside my circle of family, I wouldn't put up with that. You sound like you're stirring it actually, Queen.

4. To conclude, Put your partner first and I am really sorry about your brothers reaction.
Why? It's OP's brother's wedding day, presumably his only one and the most important day of his life. OP can easily sort this out herself with her mother and family (and, at time of this post, actually has done so).

5. You must be very hurt that he is enabling your mother. Think of the coolest lesbian and imagine her in this situation... What would she do?
Urgh... coolest lesbian? How about fully-grown adult and functioning feminist instead? OP has also been enabling her mother and, if you accept that she's been 'under the cosh' for many year you must also concede that for her brother.

You've completely ignored all reference to the mother's bigoted and disgusting behaviour in your post and I said your post was selfish because you rode roughshod over OP's brother's wedding day... all OP had to do was 'come out' to her family and this she has now done. "Go OP!!"

BoneyBackJefferson · 23/12/2014 22:22

Is anybody else seeing how the mother is making the wedding day about her?

Bowchickawowow · 23/12/2014 22:24

Yes! And everyone is accommodating her!

Queenofwands · 23/12/2014 22:27

lying Witch... are you straight?

OmnipotentQueenOfTheUniverse · 23/12/2014 22:30

lol

Why on earth should OP not put her partner first!

What a bizarre post Grin

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 23/12/2014 22:32

Why is that relevant? I'm absolutely pro-gay rights if that helps.

What is perhaps skewing my reasoning is that the wedding isn't imminent so there is time for the girlfriend to meet OP's family and, having now come out to her family, there is no reason for OP's brother not to extend an invitation to both his sister and her girlfriend now.

In view of the fact that there is time - and needed intervention from OP to put this right (which she's now done) - I think there's absolutely no reason for OP's brother to have to make announcements on his wedding day.

LadyBlaBlah · 23/12/2014 22:35

I'm pretty sure your brother should be more ashamed of having a bigoted homophobic mother and not invite her

Joysmum · 23/12/2014 22:36

Bravo OP.

can I just ask how come your family haven't met her or known about her before now as 2 years is a long time?