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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

Husband is possibly gay/bi

50 replies

whydoesitalwaysrainonme35 · 02/07/2020 10:53

Hello all,
Looking for some advice please! As the title suggests, my husband is very confused about his sexuality and I’m in pieces, worried about our future and worried about him.
The whole situation is quite messy and has been going on for quite some time. Two years ago I found out that he was having an emotional affair, we talked lots and after lots of tears and heartache we both agreed we wanted to make our marriage work. During our heart to hearts he explained to me that he hadn’t been happy for a few years, a busy and stressful job, two young kids, short on money. And tbh he did broach this with me back in about 2015, saying he thought we were losing our spark and that we barely had time for each other, I remember it, but I was quite dismissive and a bit “well what do you expect? We’re not teenagers anymore, we’ve got kids and a mortgage.” So last year whilst I thought we were working on things post ea, he had in fact struck up contact with the ap again - lots of chatting/messaging, meeting for the odd coffee. When I found out about this last December I was gutted, really, really hurt. Whilst speaking/arguing about them being in contact again, hubby got really upset and told me that he thinks there’s something wrong with him because he’s realised that he has feelings for guys. Like when he watches porn (which I don’t really have an issue with) he finds himself more interested in the guy and watching him. He also said that he can appreciate a good looking guy. He was in tears about all this and I felt genuinely sorry for him. He’s sworn all along that the ea was more a very close friendship and an ease of talking to someone he really clicked with, not a physical attraction. Although she is a pretty girly girl, she has a very athletic almost boyish body, so perhaps there was a subconscious attraction there, who knows! Anyway, he cut all contact and as far as I’m aware hasn’t contacted her since Jan this year. Things have been rocky between us. He’s sometimes very distant, snappy with the kids, has trouble sleeping, lost his appetite, sex is sporadic and I feel a real distance between us. I told him all of this earlier in the week and he got very tearful and upset again, I told him how I don’t feel loved and that I’m sure it’s all to do with ‘her’ and that he can’t get over her. He admitted he cares about her and misses her friendship, but that’s not the problem. He just kept saying his heads a mess, we’ve drifted apart, I deserve better and he doesn’t know if he can give me what I need and deserve (a loving husband), but we agreed to try and to seek help. Then last night he was acting odd again, really down and that’s when he said it. That he’s really confused and hates himself, worried he might be gay/bi. He explained that that’s why he’s distant, why he struggles to show me affection and generally hates life atm. He said he doesn’t want to feel this way, the thought of going with a man repulses him, he loves me, enjoys sex with me but just doesn’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do either! I think him saying all of that to me last night was possibly the first step in his journey to self acceptance and that given time he will develop an interest in seeing where things could go with a guy. But how long do we give it? I don’t want to be some mug who waits around to see which way he decides to go, but at the same time I don’t want to walk away from a very confused man. Help please! Apologies it’s so long x

OP posts:
Twisique · 02/07/2020 11:27

I think you have put up with enough from him, time to call it a day. Why is it all about him, what about you?

Onacleardayyoucansee · 02/07/2020 11:28

I think he may be trying to let you down gently, wanting you to take charge because he is too cowardly. There are a lot of deal breakers here (for me) the relationship is very much about what he decides.

What about you and what you want?

Easy for me to say as I am not emotionally involved and I see you have children together, but this relationship sounds like a huge drag.
He's not really "in it".

You don't have to exit now, but I would start to detach from him, focus on me, start making plans for myself and my children.
The more you check in with you, and out of this flimsy ambiguous partnership, the better you will feel.

Start batting for your side. Dragging this man along must be exhausting.

You can self refer (in most places) to talking therapies for free.
Start living your life and thinking about how you can separate.

Aquamarine1029 · 02/07/2020 11:33

He's telling you it's over.

achillesratty · 02/07/2020 11:35

So he had an EA and you end up feeling sorry for him? It doesn't matter if he is straight/bi/gay he is married to you and should not be having EA's with anyone.

He is manipulating you to accept his shitty behaviour by the whole "woe is me" routine. Do yourself a favour and tell him to go. You deserve more than a selfish man who doesn't care about your feelings.

ElspethFlashman · 02/07/2020 11:37

It's been 5 years since he first told you he was unhappy.

Since then he has sought various reasons and excuses and outlets (in the form of the EA) but this is a man who hasn't been content in years. Literally.

He needs individual counselling immediately. But I suspect this situation cannot be repaired, because a marriage only works if both people are happy within it's boundaries.

whydoesitalwaysrainonme35 · 02/07/2020 11:37

@Twisique

I think you have put up with enough from him, time to call it a day. Why is it all about him, what about you?
I guess it’s all about him because he’s the one that seems so messed up in all of this. He doesn’t know whether he’s coming or going. As for me, I do genuinely love him and thought if we could work past the ea then we stood a chance, but then this rears it’s head and I’m thinking the ea was possibly a massive distraction for him.
OP posts:
Sunnydayshereatlast · 02/07/2020 11:37

Walk away before he talks you into agreeing to him experimenting to 'find himself'...

Fanthorpe · 02/07/2020 11:41

It’s lovely of you to be trying to help him but I think it’s clear it’s making you unhappy as well. He’s no doubt confused but I think he’s going to force you into a decision because he’s not making it for himself.

Start thinking about what you want.

whydoesitalwaysrainonme35 · 02/07/2020 11:44

I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I know what you’re all saying makes sense, I’ve thought much of it myself before, yet still I make excuses. I’m scared, I don’t know what I’d do on my own, we’ve been together nearly 20 years. Financially I don’t know what I’d do, I work term time only, so don’t earn much. He’s said that he’d always support us and would continue to pay the mortgage....how long that would last I don’t know! But if he continued to pay the mortgage or any bills would I be entitled to any other benefits to make ends meet?

OP posts:
ElspethFlashman · 02/07/2020 12:01

There's a calculator, it's called entitledto, not sure of the web address.

Fanthorpe · 02/07/2020 12:01

Your life is being turned upside down by the person who went in on the marriage/house/kids/part-time working deal and is now changing his mind. He’s trying to do it in a way that he thinks is kind by becoming an object of tortured self-doubt while you try and help him.

You need to talk to someone who can help you with the practical details and find someone to give you emotional support.

Zaphodsotherhead · 02/07/2020 12:05

Whilst I don't want to cast doubt on his gay/bisexuality, I also wonder if he's using it as an out?

If he says he's leaving you (or you end the marriage) so that he can 'explore his sexuality', does it somehow make it feel better in his mind than ending a relationship because he's just not feeling it any more? Like he's not such a bad guy if he's been 'living a lie' rather than he just fancies shagging about and not having the kids around?

His ap may have been 'athletic looking', but she's still female...

Clymene · 02/07/2020 12:10

Your role is not to stand by while he figures everything out. Where are your needs in all this? He's turning on the waterworks whenever you call him out on his shit and you end up feeling sorry for him.

You can't make the marriage work on your own and he's not making any effort.

ikeepseeingit · 02/07/2020 12:10

'He’s sometimes very distant, snappy with the kids, has trouble sleeping, lost his appetite, sex is sporadic and I feel a real distance between us. '

All of these things point to depression OP, I'm really sorry that he doesn't seem to be able to put you first. I think he needs to go to counseling, and you both need to also go to couples counseling to figure out what you both want in this.

My best advice is to tell him therapy or you break it off. You can't live your life in limbo forever.

BlingLoving · 02/07/2020 12:13

OP, I can't tell you what to do but I do think that there's a problem in that HIS behaviour is faulty and yet YOU are the one feeling sorry for him? And if he's been unhappy for five years but has done nothing about it during this time except to do things that hurt you, it's not clear to me that he has any real intention of trying to make things right.

He may or may not be conflicted about his sexuality. But it's a red herring. Currently, this relationship is not making you happy and he is hurting you. Whether he's doing that because he's a horrible selfish bastard or a tortured soul is rapidly becoming irrelevant.

whydoesitalwaysrainonme35 · 02/07/2020 12:18

@Zaphodsotherhead

Whilst I don't want to cast doubt on his gay/bisexuality, I also wonder if he's using it as an out?

If he says he's leaving you (or you end the marriage) so that he can 'explore his sexuality', does it somehow make it feel better in his mind than ending a relationship because he's just not feeling it any more? Like he's not such a bad guy if he's been 'living a lie' rather than he just fancies shagging about and not having the kids around?

His ap may have been 'athletic looking', but she's still female...

I have thought the same myself actually, does it seem more acceptable to him to leave me/me ask him to leave because he needs to work out what he wants 🤷‍♀️ I do know that he is deeply ashamed (or so he says) not only of the ea (which his parents know nothing about) but for having these thoughts regarding his sexuality. He says his parents would never forgive him, what would his siblings think etc. So I think if we did separate he wouldn’t tell them everything to begin with.
OP posts:
Phrowzunn · 02/07/2020 12:47

‘If we did separate’..? Sorry OP but in what circumstances are you going to stay with him? I agree with a pp that he is done with the marriage (and has been for a long time) but doesn’t have the courage to make the break. He wants you to take control and end it, but I doubt he would ever admit to that. He be all faux-devastated if you said you were leaving / wanted him to leave but inside he’s be so relieved. Sorry but it sounds as if it’s ways past saving.

Fanthorpe · 02/07/2020 12:50

I wonder if he’s always felt this way and carries a deep sense of shame, tried to deny it to himself? He’s dragged you into it nonetheless, and as an adult he needs to work out how to solve it. He needs to talk to someone, he may well be depressed. He’s making you his confidante though because he knows you’re sympathetic, you need to have some boundaries for your own protection.

Thelnebriati · 02/07/2020 12:58

I do know that he is deeply ashamed (or so he says) not only of the ea (which his parents know nothing about) but for having these thoughts regarding his sexuality. He says his parents would never forgive him, what would his siblings think etc. So I think if we did separate he wouldn’t tell them everything to begin with.

I'm so sorry but he is trying to persuade you to keep his secret for him; and that will leave you with little or no support.
You are not responsible for the relationship between him and his parents. He's being incredibly selfish. Everything he does is for his benefit, and he is using you.

missrabbit23 · 02/07/2020 13:02

Op, I don't think he wants to leave u. I think he wants you to accept him trying out sex with other men or exploring this part of himself. Would you be comfortable with that? Would it be an open marriage? Would he be comfortable with you sleeping with someone else? Have you asked these questions?
Again I really don't think his ready to let go of the marriage. It seems he just really wants to explore this side of his sexuality and is basically hinting that out to you to see if you would be up for that?
The way his going about it is not fair on you and your kids.
Why don't u just say to him how about you go explore that side of you? And see what his reply is? Maybe he just wants to see if there's something there before taking the plunge?
Then again, what if there is something there? WhT would happen then between the both of you?
These are all questions that should be answered before you make any decisions.
Good luck and I hope you get what YOU need from this.

missrabbit23 · 02/07/2020 13:03

Also maybe you could both explore that part of him together?

Thelnebriati · 02/07/2020 13:13

Or, maybe OP should divorce him and look for a partner who is also heterosexual.

RickJames · 02/07/2020 13:24

I think this sexuality business is a bit of a red herring. He's generally unhappy and unsatisfied and that's the real issue. Even if he was bisexual, that wouldn't be a problem if he was completely committed to the relationship. I know men personally who've had the odd same sex dalliance in their youth or admit to finding some men attractive and it doesn't affect their views on loyalty or make them want to cheat. If he was recently making a nuisance with another woman then I think he's just clutching at straws. Looking for something that you would support him with, maybe the next thing will be he might be transgender. Whereas if he just said I want to have a go with other women, noone would be sympathetic.

Anyway, you should focus on your feelings and whether you want to live like this.

Lozzerbmc · 02/07/2020 13:42

Im sorry you are going through this- it must be gut wrenching for you. I also think the bi/gay thing is a red herring, the fact is he is unhappy in the marriage so what to do next ? Therapy/counselling or he leaves? My concern is even after the EA he is still not unhappy in marriage again....

Lozzerbmc · 02/07/2020 13:43

I think also he is being rather indulgent and selfish - what about your feelings?