I was married for decades before learning my husband was gay

Karen's husband had been working from home when she spotted something unusual on his laptop. She looked and saw various adult websites, causing her to feel shocked. This marked the beginning of a difficult period for Karen's two-decade marriage as her husband admitted to being gay. He went through a period of shame, hating that part of himself and feeling he married Karen hoping it would disappear.

Karen recalls leaving for the day and crying in her car. She is not alone; Yumi Stynes, host of ABC podcast Ladies, We Need to Talk, spoke with women about the impact of discovering a husband's sexuality. One mother of two, Annie, discovered her husband's sexuality after she fell ill. After she tested positive for chlamydia, she confronted her husband about his sexual activities.

He admitted to having relations with men, not women. Annie felt deceived and wanted him to seek counseling to determine if this was a phase or a permanent part of his identity. Her husband eventually realized it was not just a phase. Despite the pain and betrayal, both women have found peace and learned to love themselves more than just being their husband's wives.