In a social media post that has sparked intense debate, an individual recounts a tumultuous visit to his conservative Catholic hometown in Texas.
The original poster (OP) begins by introducing himself as a 27 year old man and his husband, who happens to be a 28 year old male.
A Conservative Family
OP shared that he had always identified as bisexual but discovered his true love when he met his husband.
They got married in the fall of 2018, and the couple now resides in Vermont.
However, OP’s family hails from a small town in Texas, where conservative Catholic values still hold sway.
Having moved away to New York City at the age of 15, OP’s parents retained their house in Texas, allowing his aunt and uncle, who recently had their third child, to move in at a reduced rent.
OP recounts coming out as bisexual in college, with mixed reactions from his extended family. While OP’s father and brother were supportive, his mother needed time to accept the revelation.
Despite this, they eventually came around.
When OP and his husband visited Texas, they stayed with the aunt and uncle, but an uncomfortable dynamic persisted due to the aunt and uncle’s refusal to let them share a bed before marriage.
As they valued peace over conflict, OP and his partner would often opt for a motel room instead.
The pandemic prevented them from visiting during Covid, but this summer, their parents invited them to visit their hometown for two weeks. The real trouble began when the sleeping arrangements were discussed on the first night of their stay.
A Conflict Of Beliefs
The aunt and uncle insisted that OP and his brother take the spare bedroom, while the husband slept on the couch.
All three of them opposed this arrangement, leading to a verbal fight.
The aunt and uncle claimed that OP and his husband were not “really married” due to their same-sex relationship.
Also, they went on to say that it would be a bad influence on their children.
This derogatory comment deeply hurt OP’s husband, prompting him to run out of the room in tears. The uncle, shockingly, responded with laughter, enraging OP further.
Families Get Involved
In a fit of anger, OP threatened to tell his father what transpired and have them evicted from the house still in his parents’ name.
The uncle attempted to backtrack, asserting they were welcome in “their” house as long as they followed the rules.
However, OP made it clear that it was not truly “their” house and that eviction was imminent.
Upon learning about the incident, OP’s father was furious and served the aunt and uncle a 60-day eviction notice.
OP faced backlash from other family members, questioning if he had gone too far in seeking justice for his husband and himself.
OP, thinking if he had wronged his little cousins by leaving them to deal with homelessness, turned to the online community for suggestions.
To Evict Or Not To Evict?
Social media users responded fervently, offering their perspectives on the situation.
One commenter, lizfour defended OP’s actions, stating that OP’s father’s decision was entirely within his rights after learning about the aunt and uncle’s disrespectful behavior.
The user doubted the intentions of the uncle and aunt, stating,
“They insisted a hotel was not needed and then decided to disregard your marriage. The whole ‘not married so separate rooms’ thing was clearly an excuse before as well.”
Old-Bee-4773 echoed this sentiment, deeming the aunt and uncle’s actions cruel and manipulative, suggesting that they had long taken advantage of reduced rent without saving for their own house.
The commenter insinuated that the father’s decision may have been a long-overdue response to their freeloading ways.
Transmascsnearyou chimed in, emphasizing the hypocrisy of the aunt and uncle’s insistence on separate beds, considering they likely don’t sleep in separate beds themselves due to the presence of children in the house.
“I’m assuming your aunt and uncle sleep in separate beds since there are children in the house right? They insisted on you staying but had the audacity to insult their guests and separate a married couple.”
Not_a_bad_egg asserted that the father had the right to evict the aunt and uncle, considering their disrespect towards his son and son-in-law.
The commenter pointed out that OP was merely seeking acceptance and equality within his own family.
Sunrise_library expressed admiration for OP’s bravery in standing up against bigotry and praised the father for supporting his son and son-in-law.
“And hats off to your dad for standing by you. You’re all awesome! Except aunt and uncle.”
Lastly, Auroraburst acknowledged the consequences the cousins would face due to their parents’ actions.
“I feel for your cousins but your aunt and uncle were warned..”
The Verdict
OP’s story reveals a clash of values within a conservative Catholic family.
Most users felt that despite facing backlash, OP was justified in standing up for his marriage and demanding respect.
The eviction decision was a consequence of the aunt and uncle’s refusal to accept their nephew’s relationship rather than an act of cruelty.
The discussion surrounding this post highlights the ongoing struggle for acceptance and equality faced by the LGBTQ+ community within their own families.
It serves as a reminder that familial love and understanding should transcend differences, creating a space where everyone feels welcomed and loved.
The verdict, it seems from the majority of the comments, is a resounding call for respect and empathy.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments. Do you think the OP from this social media post was wrong?
Featured Image Credit: kanareva /Depositphotos.com.
This article originally appeared on Ash & Pri.
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