Dear Abby: We are a male couple celebrating 34 years of partnership. We recently took a cruise, during which we met four straight couples traveling together who welcomed us into their group. It was a pleasant experience, and we were delighted to make friends with whom we anticipated sailing again. In fact, the group booked a future cruise onboard and insisted we join them.
Upon returning home and making the obligatory social media connections, we were stunned to discover extremist views propagated by multiple members of the group, including, but not limited to, dangerous falsehoods about and disparagement of gays. One of them said gays should be banished from society. Our reaction was one of disbelief, given the warmth with which we were treated during the cruise.
With true colors now revealed, we intend to cancel the booking made onboard, but we are at odds as to how or whether to explain the decision. I am angry and ready to rumble, while my pacifist husband says we should let it go. Any insights you can offer will be appreciated.
— Conflicted at Sea
Dear Conflicted: Hang onto your temper. You would be within your rights (as well as the parameters of etiquette) to contact the people and ask if they still feel this way about gay people after the cruise. If the answer is yes, ask why they would invite you and your partner to travel with them again. While you’re at it, express that the comments they posted were untrue, uncalled-for and hurtful, and that you will not travel anywhere with them again.
Previously
Dear Abby: How do I cope with the silence from close relatives that deepens the loss of my mother?
Dear Abby: My handsy brother-in-law wouldn’t leave me alone, but my sister thinks I’m the villain
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, California 90069. Copyright 2024, Andrews, McMeel Syndication.
