Not everything is all sunshine and rainbows around the Valentine’s Day holiday of love. A would-be bridesmaid took to reddit after her soon-to-be-wed friend’s homophobic comments led to multiple members dropping out of the wedding, till eventually the whole wedding was called off.
On February 8th, reddit user Ellis took to reddit seeking advice. In her post, she explained how her friend, Kelly the-soon-to-be-bride, told Ellis that she and her girlfriend Anita were no longer welcome at the wedding. Apparently, Kelly claimed her future in-laws “became furious upon learning a gay couple was invited to the ceremony.”
Ellis, after seeking advice from reddit, called Kelly for answers. Unfortunately, the answers weren’t adding up. Kelly seemingly tried to brush off the whole ordeal and even sought to take back Ellis’ bridesmaid dress “because she found someone to replace her.”
The news spread like wild fire after the groom’s best man overheard the conversation, after which he promptly texted the groom, Eric, to inform him that he was dropping out of the wedding party.
The groom’s response?
He called off the entire thing stating he “wants to step back and think if Kelly is the right match for him.”
And rightfully so.
According to the redditor, she lives in a “staunchly-homophobic country ‘where gay marriage is non-existent.” She would not reveal the exact location.
The whole thing boils down to a difference in dialect in the language they speak.
Ellis explained “his father made an off-hand comment which translates to ‘what’s a good girl like Ellis doing with another woman?’
“His mother said ‘children these days think different, you antique cow, shouldn’t talk so much.’ Kelly took it upon herself to interpret that her future-in-laws meant they hated homosexuals. [they] weren’t furious and never said Ellis and Anita aren’t welcome to the wedding. Kelly and a few of us speak that dialect fluently, there’s no way she didn’t understand exactly what Eric’s parents said.”
In the age where marginalized groups all around the world must fight for their right to live and pursue happiness, sometimes to be an ally means to stand up against those we love. And, unfortunately, sometimes that leads to severed ties. But in no way did Eric do the wrong thing. In an era where speaking up and telling stories has more power than ever, turning a blind eye to injustice is complacency in the systems which perpetuate those injustices.