AITA for kicking my disabled mother out of my house because she isn’t accepting of my gay relationship?

A son’s decision to come out as gay to his homophobic mother, who lives with him due to her severe heart condition, ignited a family firestorm. After she responded with tears, disappointment, and cruel remarks about his boyfriend, the Reddit user gave her a month to leave his home, tired of sacrificing his identity for her care. Now, family members accuse him of abandoning a vulnerable woman, while he stands firm, unwilling to endure her hate.

This AITA post cracks open a raw clash of personal freedom, family duty, and moral limits. Reddit’s rallying behind the OP, but is his eviction notice justified, or too harsh for a dying mother? Let’s unpack this heart-wrenching standoff, where love and loathing collide.

‘AITA for kicking my disabled mother out of my house because she isn’t accepting of my gay relationship?’

A mother’s toxic reaction to her son’s coming out unraveled their fragile coexistence, leading to a drastic ultimatum. Here’s the Reddit user’s story in their own words:

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My mother is widowed, without many funds and suffering from heart failure, with an ejection fraction of less than 15% and a bunch of other stuff wrong with her. She isn't eligible for a transplant for a number of reasons and at this point according to optimistic doctors she has another 10 years left.

Before her diagnosis, she had a lot of money saved for retirement but since then, to pay for all of the medical expenses she has and her expensive meds on a monthly basis she's had to sell her home and move in with me, her only child.

So I've been letting her live with me rent free for about three years now since she fell sick. Things have mostly been fine, but that's because I haven't been in a relationship during this time. I've had relationships in the past that would end because of my fear of my parents finding out, who were always extremely h**ophobic, especially my mom.

My mom isn't h**ophobic with the excuse of religion, she just blatantly hates the entire LGBT movement and has said some incredibly hurtful things over the years without knowing I'm gay that have stuck with me all my life. She's also r**ist.

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But, she's my mother, so I accepted her into my home because she didn't have anywhere else to go as no extended family could or were willing to accommodate her. A few months ago I met my current boyfriend, we'll call him Steve.

I decided that I'll have some balls and tell my mom I'm gay and introduce Steve to her afterwards judging by her reaction, since she literally lives with me I thought just maybe she could sit and bear it and then find out for herself that her entire world view is wrong after seeing us together for a while.

Not only did she tell me she's disappointed in me and started crying about how she should have raised me better, she told me I was going to catch aids and die if I stay with him. I told her she has a month to find other living accommodations and that she can't stay here, and that I don't care where she goes as long as she gets out of my house.

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I said this quite calmly and gave her notice to find someplace, so I think I didn't do anything wrong but other members of my family think that I've practically made my mother homeless, and since no one else wants to accommodate her and she has no funds and a severe disability she'll end up in a shelter.

Honestly, it's not my problem anymore. I'm sick of sacrificing for her when she can't even accept me for who I am, so if she's homeless, she had it coming.. But anyway, do you think I'm the AH?

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This eviction saga lays bare the agonizing tension between self-preservation and familial obligation, especially when prejudice poisons the bond. The OP’s mother, dependent on him due to her heart failure and financial ruin, wielded homophobic vitriol that struck at his core identity, reigniting lifelong wounds. His decision to evict her, while severe, reflects the breaking point of enduring abuse in his own home, particularly after years of caregiving. The family’s criticism, without offering to house her themselves, shifts blame unfairly.

Dr. Joshua Coleman, an expert on family estrangement, notes, “Toxic parental behavior, like homophobia, can justify boundaries, even in caregiving scenarios, as self-protection becomes paramount” (Source). A 2023 Journal of Family Psychology study found that 40% of LGBTQ+ adults cut contact with parents over identity-based rejection, often citing mental health preservation (Source). The mother’s health and dependency complicate the optics, but her refusal to respect OP’s identity undermines her claim to his support.

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This ties to broader issues of caregiving boundaries, homophobia, and family accountability. The OP’s calm delivery of the ultimatum shows restraint, but the short timeline and her frailty raise practical concerns.

Advice: OP could extend the deadline to 60 days, working with social services or family to explore nursing homes or subsidized housing, saying, “I can’t live with your hate, but I’ll help you find a place.” This balances compassion with self-respect. Therapy could help OP process guilt and trauma, and he should lean on Steve for support. Family members should be pressed to step up or stay silent.

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Here’s what Redditors had to say:

Reddit swung hard for the OP, slamming the mother’s bigotry and the family’s hypocrisy. Here’s what the community had to say about this homebound heartbreak:

MinFarshaw − NTA. All these people complaining about you “making your mother homeless” can take her in if they care so much.

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samuelx94x − NTA - Your mothers views are outdated, rude and ignorant and there's no place in this world for them. Whilst I'm sorry to hear about your mothers situation, no loving mother should speak to their son like that especially after you've taken her in.

[Reddit User] − NTA - it’s a s**tty situation but you’ve already lived a lie long enough for this woman, and you don’t owe her anything anymore if she’s not willing to let you be you. If she’d rather be homeless than accept who her son is, so be it.

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muiyanyan − NTA. Your mental well being deserves a rest too. Being a sole caregiver is exhausting work that goes unnoticed and people are always ungrateful for. It is very telling when your family members are quick to judge but wont offer a home.

I would say help her find a place though. The chances of older adults finding homes is much more difficult without an advocate. Are there options for nursing or retirement facilities in your area?

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NYCQuilts − NTA. HOWEVER, think about how this played out. You came out to a lifetime virulent homophobe yet somehow expected that she would change her entire worldview. In anger that she didn't become a different person who gave you the love and acceptance you deserve, you gave her a month to move out during a pandemic.

I know this sub is quick to tell people to cut off family members and I don't think you should stay with a judgmental AH in your own house. But people have complicated love for parents and you might as the deadline gets closer, find yourself weakening.

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In the ring of AHs that is your family (do you have aunts & uncles?), are there any who would work with you to figure out a place for her to go along with social services/church charity she can access?

In their eyes, you put up with her s**t for 3 years (all your life) and it looks to them like you are all of a sudden throwing over a sick woman for a boyfriend. Be firm that you can no longer have her stay with you, but you would like her to be safe and they need to help find her new accommodations.

Nihil_esque − It may be unpopular, but I think ESH tbh. I'm currently in the process of planning and preparing my coming out to my h**ophobic parents. A lot of what I'm thinking about as I plan it is how to make the information as easy as possible for them to digest, since I already know that they will feel hurt by the information and won't take it well (even if in a perfect world, this would not be the case).

I would establish some ground rules about her behavior, especially around your boyfriend. If she says hurtful things toward him, you will serve her with an eviction notice. But seriously, give her some time to adjust to the new information. You can't really just demand that people change their views instantly or be homeless.

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Give her a couple months to think about it and ask that she is at least respectful toward your relationship, even if that doesn't reflect how she feels on the inside. If she continues to be vile and hateful, make a decision from there.

You've started your relationship with her as your genuine self in a wildly adversarial way, which is counterproductive if you want her to be accepting or to have a good relationship with her in the future.

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0s1n2o3w4y5 − NTA she's...extremely ungrateful.

clevelandcray − NTA If she cannot be accepting of your life and love you for the entire person you are, you do not need to allow her to stay in your home, period. However, I think YWBTA if she tries to make progress on the issue and you still boot her. A little time and understanding on everyone’s part may open her eyes to her h**ophobic ways.

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SparkyMalarky − ESH. Nothing wrong with being gay. Nothing wrong with giving your mother an ultimatum. Nothing wrong with being who you are. But, if I read your post right, your mother had held her beliefs all her life and you have stayed in the closet rather than confront her.

Can’t really blame you, but... now you’re doing a complete about face, hitting her with everything at once, expecting her to change her world view overnight just on your say so,and not giving her time to even begin to get used to the idea. That’s a lot to ask! And her alternative is to be homeless or to ... what? Get a job? Get a spot in a nursing home? In 30 days? During a pandemic?

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JMLKO − NTA how awful for you, sorry to hear that’s your situation. Sounds like she feels strongly about it so she can be on her own to stew in her h**red alone.

These Reddit punches land on the mother’s hate, but do they gloss over her vulnerability? Is OP’s ultimatum a bold stand or a risky move?

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This family saga cracks the heart with a son’s stand against his mother’s homophobia, risking her stability to reclaim his own. The OP’s eviction notice to his ailing mother won Reddit’s applause, but family backlash and her frail condition leave him wrestling with doubt. Was he right to draw this line, or should he have softened the blow? Have you faced a loved one’s prejudice that forced a breaking point? What would you do to protect your peace—or your parent? Open your heart in the comments below and keep the convo alive!

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