34 Year Relationship Ends in 1 Shocking Moment After Meeting 4 Innocent Friends on Vacation

DEAR ABBY: We are a male couple celebrating 34 years of partnership. Our relationship has been filled with love, support, and a deep understanding of each other. We have been through many life-changing experiences together and have always come out stronger.

Recently, we took a cruise, during which we met four straight couples traveling together. They welcomed us into their group with open arms, and we were delighted to make friends with whom we anticipated sailing again. It was a pleasant experience, and we enjoyed each other's company as we explored the beautiful destinations the cruise had to offer.

As we spent more time together, we found ourselves bonding over our shared interests and values. We thought we had found a group of friends who were open-minded and accepting of our lifestyle. In fact, the group booked a future vacation, and we were excited to join them again.

However, our excitement was short-lived. One evening, as we were all gathered in the lounge, one of the couples made a comment about their church's stance on same-sex relationships. We were taken aback as they expressed their agreement with the church's teachings, stating that same-sex relationships were 'not in line with God's word.'

We were shocked, to say the least. We couldn't believe that the people we had grown to like and respect could hold such deeply hurtful views. We tried to brush it off, thinking that maybe they didn't realize the harm their words could cause. However, as the conversation continued, it became clear that their views were deeply ingrained.

Another couple chimed in, stating that they believed same-sex relationships were a 'lifestyle choice' and that we had simply chosen to be gay. We were stunned. How could people who had been so friendly and welcoming just hours before hold such hurtful and misinformed views?

We excused ourselves from the conversation, trying to process our emotions. We couldn't believe that our new friends could be so unaware of the pain they were causing. We realized that we had been naive to think that everyone who was friendly and welcoming was also open-minded and accepting.

The rest of the trip was uncomfortable, to say the least. We tried to avoid conversations that might lead to more hurtful comments, but it was impossible to escape the feeling of unease. We realized that some people may never understand or accept our lifestyle, and that's okay. However, it's hard to reconcile that with the fact that we had grown to like and respect these people.

In the end, we decided not to join the group on their future vacation. While we appreciate their friendship, we cannot continue to surround ourselves with people who hold such hurtful views. We deserve better, and we will continue to seek out relationships with people who love and accept us for who we are.