People can only take so much before they crack and do something they might regret.
Reddit user trich-0rtreat is a lesbian living with her aunt and grandmother.
But her aunt never misses an opportunity to remind the Original Poster (OP) that her sexuality is a "sin."
After letting countless comments like this pass, OP finally broke down and came back at her aunt with a crack about her breast implants during a dinner party.
Was OP in the right by standing up for herself or should she apologize for her retort? She visited the popular subReddit "Am I The A**hole?" (AITA) to find out by asking anonymous internet users to declare:
- NTA - Not The A**hole
- YTA - You're The A**hole
- ESH - Everyone Sucks Here
- NAH - No A**holes Here
She told her story in a post titled "AITA for pointing out my aunts breast implants after her constantly using me for brownie points?"
"Am I the a**hole for pointing out my aunts breast implants after she keeps pointing out that being gay is a sin?"
"To start off, I'm a lesbian (yes this is important) and I'm proud of it despite coming from a conservative family. When I came out they were all generally accepting but made it very clear that they didn't approve of it because of the Bible's view on it. Okay, fair enough."
"My aunt, however, is very... special. I love her with all of my heart but she seems to have this superiority complex where if she does something good nobody will stop hearing about it for weeks. Me coming out as gay was the cherry on top of the cake because she didn't kick me out (I live with her and my granny) and as a result I became one of her 'I am such a good person' stories."
"Any time she talks about it the conversation goes something like: 'Yeah OP is gay and the Bible is most definitely against it but I see no point in kicking her out because that won't make her straight' There is nothing inherently wrong with that, but when someone continually brings up that I'm their charity case it gets very annoying."
""Fast forward to 2020, we're sitting around the dinner table with a couple of guests over and the topic of the Bible comes up eventually. On cue, my aunt starts talking about me being gay and her accepting me despite what the Bible says, and then starts ranting about why it's a sin."
"At this point I'm sick and tired of my sexuality always being brought up as a way for her to get admiration points, so I wait for her to stop talking and then I say 'it's funny that you weren't thinking of the Bible when you got your breast implants, but it's suddenly very important when my sexuality comes up'. I kid you not, the glare I got from her that night could have burnt through my skull but personally it felt really good to finally say something against her."
"Side note: Everyone at the table already knew about her breast plants but nobody had ever acknowledged it since it was a touchy subject."
"Edit: I have spoken to her about this before, but she always doubles back to 'but it is a sin, you can't hate me for stating a fact'. It's been useless up to this point, the only way to get her to listen (in my experience) is to call her out publicly"
Reddit was ready to provide OP with some more comebacks.
"NTA. Good one. Please keep being proud of you and refusing to take any BS. Also keep using the Bible to refute any claims of homosexuality being a sin. 'Yes dear aunty, I know just how you feel. When you wore that polyester sweater (Deuteronomy 22:11), I knew it was a sin. But I didn't say anything because I thought it looked so cute on you'" -booplydooply
The Bible doesn't say it's ok to be a jerk, even to sinners.
"Like most (all) christians, she's cherry-picking the hell (no pun intended) out of the bible. If she wants to be like that, then two can play at that game. Obviously you're both being a**holes, but yours was warranted by her behaviour, so I'm gonna say NTA." -ErrorArtError
In fact, the Bible contains several passages which specifically say not to brag about good deeds, which Reddit's religious side was quick to point out.
"Matthew 6:2 and Matthew 6:5"
"M6:2—Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."
"M6:5—And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."
"OP: You might want to keep these two (especially M6:5) in mind for the next time it all comes up." -MarioneTTe-Doll
There were some people on the subReddit who thought OP's actions were justified, but still constituted a**hole behavior.
"ESH since that's not how you should act in those situations. I'm on your side but embarrassing your aunt in public is just as bad as using you to get brownie points." -Paulsonmn31
"Yeah I'm gonna second ESH. The aunt sucks, but I don't see what breast implants have to do with the Bible, and two wrongs don't make a right. Insulting her may be cathartic, and maybe she deserves it, but it's still a**holery." -THE_CENTURION
"ESH- she should just leave you being gay out of it, but you don't need to play her stupid game with her. All your doing is making the situation worse. Just ignore her." -TikisFury
Modifying your body is technically a no-no in some versions and interpretations of the Bible.
"Leviticus 19:28, NIV (New International Version): 'Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD. Basically 'don't modify your body'"
"Now, all of the Old Testament law was pretty much removed from canon by Jesus, including the don't be gay stuff, so while it's not actually a sin to get breast implants nowadays, it's also not a sin to be a lesbian. NTA" -Your_Pet_Named_Steve
Perhaps this aunt should be remembering a more important Christian teaching.
"NTA. And while I don't think being gay is a sin, technical speaking the Bible only has issues with men being gay and wasting their seed. Just saying! Also, there is that whole second part of the Bible where Jesus said to love each other. People love to forget that part." -Viperbunny
Ultimately, something must be done about this behavior.
"NTA - I mean, I feel like the thing you said isn't great, but I don't think you need to feel obligated to be nice to your aunt, she is being unkind to you."
"It super bothers me that - not only does she keep talking about how homosexuality is a sin (bad enough behavior by itself), not only does she brag about accepting you (also bad enough in itself - that should be expected, not something special!), not only is the combination of those two things pretty ludicrous, but also wtf she is bragging about not kicking you out??? That shouldn't even be in question!"
"It's like she keeps reminding you that although she's choosing out of the goodness of her heart to let you keep living with her, she could kick you out at any time, don't get too comfortable. Gah."
"Nobody should have to worry that their family might kick them out because they're gay, that should not be even a little bit an option on the table, and her continually making this possibility salient to you makes me really uncomfortable." -tcheasdfjkl
Some Reddit users found the aunt particularly patronizing.
"That is a savior complex, and as a fellow gay, those people piss me off more than homophobes. She is using you like a trophy and it is totally okay to speak against it."
"You could've done it in a nicer way, but personally I'm not judging. Yeah you snapped but you were also in the right so.... NTA" -radical__chadical
It seems OP mostly has the clear from Reddit this time around. With a little bit of luck, her shade will change her aunt's behavior a little bit in the future.
*If you enjoyed this article, you can read more like it by clicking on the AITA link below.*
@themanfromvulcan/Reddit
@buffysmanycoats/Reddit
@jadelikethestone/Reddit
