My fiance recently emailed his older woman friend, running me down and telling her untrue things about me, making it look like, "poor him, with someone like that.”
      I didn’t appreciate this and he apologized. Later, he asked if this woman could stay with us for a week. I said I didn’t feel comfortable with having a stranger in my home and we really didn't have the room. He accepted this.  
      Next, I learned that she’s his ex-girlfriend’s mother. It hurt me that he omitted that fact, but was also discussing our personal life with her. He’s angry with me and thinks he should be allowed to speak to whomever he chooses.
      I agree, but not to talk about me, or our relationship, especially with an ex's mom. Am I over-reacting?
      - Dispute

Tell your fiance to drop his ridiculous “free speech” self-defense. This is about disrespect, plus his immaturity; it should have you discussing the relationship, not your response.
      Here’s why: 1) A fiance who badmouths and spills personal-life details to outsiders, shows disloyalty. 2) Leaving out information that she’s an ex’s mother, is deceitful. If she’d stayed at your house, it’s highly likely the badmouthing circle would’ve widened. 3) If this guy needs “poor me” attention, you need to know why. 4) His anger over “permission” to verbally malign you, is a childish tactic to turn the argument away from his own crummy behaviour.
      Start talking about the real issue - whether you two have enough good reasons to be together.

My girlfriend says she’s keeping our relationship secret because she doesn’t want her friends to tease her. We’re late-20s, together six months.
      - Is It Okay?

It’s unusual, and begs for more explanation - to you. Is she fully single? Still shopping? Uncommitted? Find out.

My in-laws insult me, even in front of my family. Their comments are racially- related, religiously-based, about my weight, my family, my relationship with my mother, how I raise my children.
      My husband's response is that people are entitled to there opinion. I’ve become bitterly angry with him and his family. I recently lost my temper on his mother; it really bothers me because I don't argue with other people.  
      I’ve lost respect for my husband - now our own disagreements turn into huge blow-outs, in front of our children. I told my husband much of this is cultural because many women I work with come from his culture and talk against their husbands’ mothers.
      I’ve started seeing someone to deal with my anger. But I don’t want to be around his family and I resent my husband. I love him but also hate him because he thinks their comments are acceptable.
      - Wits’ End

Your counter-attack on his “culture” is little different from racial and religious insults. But if you want to preserve your marriage, you’ll need to focus on the love you still feel.
      Your husband obviously feels weak and helpless when it comes to his parents’ bigotry and rudeness. But he’s not.
      You need to tell him that your feelings for him are being affected, and that, if you two end up apart, he’s not even tried to stand up for you and fight for your marriage.
      Get counselling together. Ask for help finding ways to either ignore his parents’ insults, or see them less … even to considering moving away. Hubby chose YOU; now, both of you need to protect your immediate family from emotional harm.

My best friend and I both have low self-confidence; she often complains to me about how she’s a failure. I point out how intelligent, skillful and beautiful she is, with a bright future ahead, but she refuses to see it.
      I’ve run out of things to say to comfort her. Her comments also hurt me; sometimes I wonder how she sees me, if she has such high standards. It makes me doubt myself.
      - Mutual Defeat

She’s looking through negative lenses, and – while you encourage her to be positive – you’re following suit when reflecting on yourself.
      It’s not a healthy “best friend” relationship. Work on yourself: Look to the things you enjoy and participate more in them. Start something new, with no other goal but personal satisfaction. Hopefully, if your friend sees you actively improving your outlook, she’ll realize she has the same choice.
      When she complains again, change the topic.