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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:
Queenofwands · 24/12/2014 00:43

Lying...what a lovely post and I could tell how sincerely you meant that. I think the situation with my GF who I love dearly is Karma, I am now on the receiving end of what I have dished out previously and it hurts. The OP sounds like she will get through this and I bet the Brother relents in the end. My thoughts are with the OPs DP and I hope she realises she has done nothing wrong except be herself. I think this thread is full of muddled logic but not malice.

Lezprechaun · 24/12/2014 00:46

I'm in a same sex relationship also and have had the same issues with my partner being excluded from family events due to my parents. At first I went along with it and then realised nothing would ever change and she would always be like a dirty secret so I made a stand.

I refused to attend any event without her and if that meant my parents refused to attend it was up to the invite who they had there. I never got offended if it wasn't me however as I appreciated how difficult it is and hated having to put them in that position as a result of my parents ignorance.

I have been with my partner nearly 8 years now and my parents havnt changed and we are now no contact, it is generally her who does not attend family events now through who own choice as she thinks it's disgusting tht other family members have accepted my relationship.

It's difficult for all involved but I strongly believe that enabling this behaviour means it will never stop.

HerrenaHarridan · 24/12/2014 01:02

Really glad I read the thread before posting, nearly didn't as it late and I'm tired and I wanted to just duck in with one thing.

Since I did I have a couple more things to add.

Firstly late bloomer, I remember your first thread about your potential new dp and I'm really happy that you decided to go for it. Congratulations!

To queen and lying, well done for actually listening to each other and not just arguing at cross purposes.

In a senses both opposing views are right, op should make a stand from the off but should do it in a way that will not take away from the wedding.

The email pics were a great start. Well done!
Arrange to meet up with family units and make sure that any fall out and drama has happened way before the wedding.
Once everyone knows your dp if she does not attend the wedding they WILL ask after her if she doesn't attend and you can speak the truth.

You don't have to miss your brothers wedding, or be disloyal to your partner. She is not a dirty secret and your mum is exposed for the bigot she is.
No big scenes at the wedding necessary

All the best Xmas Smile

TheFourthLobster · 24/12/2014 04:16

It's Christmas, maybe, just maybe the OP's mother will see how stupid she's being. Hope so, but not holding my breath.

Nomama · 24/12/2014 09:57

Well done on sending out the piccies. As has been said, you can now make arrangements to meet your extended family as a couple.

Also, good luck on finding a way through DBs wedding. It is really hard to overcome the years of parental programming, I hope he manages it, especially if the rest of the family meet your OH between now and the wedding and make him realise that your mum's opinion can be ignored.

I hope he does, then he will have wedding piccies as wonderful as ours: FIL and his very pregnant GF; SIL and her OH who kissed and made confused my bridesmaids (Oh mummy those ladies kissed); uncle and his OH (more consternation for the bridesmaids) and a whole heap of ultra conservative older generation rellies who found it all a bit hilarious that the youngy'uns would think they had a problem with any of it at all!

GingerbreadPudding · 24/12/2014 10:33

Could you organise a family get together before the wedding and invite everyone from 'me and Karen (or whatever) so it's obvious you are a couple and some family members are sure to attend so when the wedding comes round people are greeting your partner as someone they know?

BoneyBackJefferson · 24/12/2014 10:55

MiddleAgedandConfused

"These situations are as complex as you choose to make them."

But this isn't a simple situation, even the title paints the DB as the bad person and the mother as the victim.

To unpick years of conditioning is never going to be simple.

Joysmum · 24/12/2014 11:00

Could you organise a family get together before the wedding and invite everyone from 'me and Karen (or whatever) so it's obvious you are a couple and some family members are sure to attend so when the wedding comes round people are greeting your partner as someone they know?

That was my thought too.

Much easier for you and, more importantly, your girlfriend if she knows people and they know her.

People find it hard enough as it is meeting loads of people they don't know at a formal occasion, without added problems of an unreasonable mother thrown into the mix!

I'm so glad you've sent out the cards.

Merry Christmas everyone Xmas Smile

CogitOIOIO · 24/12/2014 11:02

The only person who is conditioned is the mother. The brother is fine but being a little silly & cowardly, friends and other family members sound like they are in the dark so just need to be introduced. Once everyone else is in the know - and let's assume the bride's family are normal people rather than zealots - the mother will probably have to cave or risk looking the odd one out. Would she cause a stink at her own son's wedding? Is she that petty?

BarbarianMum · 24/12/2014 11:10

I can see why the Op's db has made the decision he has but ultimately I wouldn't dream of going to a family occasion that my dh was debarred from.

OP is think you should gently make it clear to your family that you/your dp come as a package, or this will just be the first of many occasions where she will be excluded as 'it's easier'.

BoneyBackJefferson · 24/12/2014 11:20

CogitOIOIO

"The only person who is conditioned is the mother."

Yet the OP posts that she is controlling and they have spent "a long time" trying to please her.

"Would she cause a stink at her own son's wedding? Is she that petty?"

She is already dictating who should go to the wedding, so we know that she is petty. the question is what will win out: Her need to control or not wanting to be "social shamed".

Mammanat222 · 24/12/2014 11:57

Have read through first few pages and have to say I think the brother is getting a hard time here.

He seems completely fine with his sisters sexuality and I can understand why he wouldn't want his wedding day getting dragged into this?

Yes the mother is completely out of order here but sadly she is still the mother of the bride and for the sake of keeping the peace I can understand why he has decided not to invite OP's partner.

Look, it's a really fucked up and sad situation and I feel for the OP but I really don't think it's appropriate for her to start offering ultimatums to her brother. If it was her Mother's wedding I would be all for "making a stand" but it's not. Her brother is just caught in the crossfire - it's perfectly reasonable for him so support his sister but still facilitate a relationship with his mother?

Take aside the lesbian issue and just say that they mother disliked the OP's new partner I'd probably advise that the OP go to her brother's wedding alone for her brother and then lay down the law to mother afterwards.

Its s tough call and the OP's brother has had to make a very touch choice. It doesn't mean he doesn't love and support his sister, it just means he has had to make a difficult choice.

Mammanat222 · 24/12/2014 11:58
  • mother of the groom - Sorry!
MaryWestmacott · 24/12/2014 12:05

I think there is a very real possiblity that while the DB isn't ashamed at all that his Dsis is gay, he is very ashamed his mother is so homophobic wants to hide that from his future in-laws and friends. I can't imagine many people (outside the OP's very oddly religious mother) , would really mind or be bothered at all beyond "oh, that's lateblooming's girlfriend, she seems nice." (although that might take some attention away from the happy couple so there's an argument for the girlfriend meeting the family first so it's ot the focus of the day for the grooms family!). However, if his mum makes a scene, that would be hideous for the couple. If they can't ensure that both his mum and his dsis's DP can be in the same room without his mum shouting off, then someone has to not come.

It's a much bigger issue to not invite your mum than to not invite your sister's (not married) partner. Just saying "you can come or not" to the mum won't be enough if she possibly might come and then cause upset and ruin the day if the OP's gf is there, and this isn't about the OP and her DP, it's not about the OP and her Mum, it's not about the DB and his mum, it's about the DB and his future DW. It's about that couple and I can completely see they would want to avoid anything that will spoil their wedding day, even if it involves pandering to his mother.

OP what you have done, coming out to the extended family, stopping your DP being a secret, is the best course of action all round. If you now can start arranging to meet other family members with your DP, perhaps invite some over to yours at some point - to further remove from the wedding situation the 'novelty' of your DP. (Don't ask your mum at the same time, you dont need her permission to cal your Aunt and ask her for lunch or your cousins!)

Ultimately, you might not be able to have a relationsihp with your mum. Sad

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