Woman wonders about ‘outing’ friend’s husband

Dear Amy: I’ve been friends with another woman since college. We are both middle-aged and married (to men).

Upon meeting her husband for the first time (years ago), I had the immediate sense that he may be homosexual or bisexual. There’s no defining thing, of course, but it was how he spoke to other men at the restaurant table and a flirting moment with the waiter that gave me pause.

I assumed it was just an intuition and, frankly, none of my business. That said, the more my friend began to discuss her relationship, the more convinced I became that he may lean that direction. Worse, she seemed to be in denial about it, but again — none of my business.

We often get together as couples, and the flirting behavior is the same.

He has one specific male friend he spends a lot of time with, and he once became angry with my friend because she arrived home unexpectedly while they were there. He even asked her to stay out of sight while the friend was there because it was “awkward” for her to be in their space (it’s her house!).

She seems quite bitter. When she tells me these things, I roll my eyes, and we commiserate about spousal life. Meanwhile, I’m screaming inside.

What should I do, if anything?

— Sincerely Stumped Dear Stumped: I often say, in this space, that “good friends tell one another the truth,” and yet, in this situation I keep returning to your repeated observation that this man’s sexuality isn’t your business. It really isn’t!

Commiserating about your husbands might feel helpful in the moment to you both, but in my close observation over the years, I’ve noticed that the people I know in what I would call “mature” and stable relationships don’t really do this. I don’t believe it is because their relationships are universally happier, but more that they have figured out that griping about their partner invites lopsided judgment.

That having been said, if your friend asked you outright: “What do you think is going on with Frederick? He doesn’t seem interested in me …” you could respond: “Have you two ever talked about his sexuality? He has always struck me as being more sexually fluid than you are.”