Member-only story
I Need Help with Explaining the Gay Invite
How do I break this down for my mom?
The gay invite goes something like this:
“Hey, remember that guy that sat in the corner during that thing we went to? The one who said nothing the entire time? He had a hat?”
“Um… I think so? Why?”
“Oh, he invited you to come to his barbecue on Saturday.”
“Wait, what?”
“Yeah, he wants you to come. Oh, and he invited your wife, too!”
Yes, the Gay Invite really happens
The first time it happened to me was shortly after I came out. I had my first girlfriend and, not long after, my first unexpected invitation. It came with the caveat, “bring your girlfriend.”
It was a wedding in Shanghai between two people I didn’t know at all, but I figured my GF knew them, so I wasn’t worried. The bride was a local and the groom was an American guy. No surprises there.
We arrived to the opulent banquet hall together and got directed to a table on an oddly raised part of the floor. Strange. Luckily a few friends sat with us which made it a little less weird.
Then we mentioned something about getting invited as a couple, and everyone’s eyebrows flew up…
