# Does use of the term "partner" make you curious?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-use-of-the-term-partner-make-you-curious/563178>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [December 6, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-use-of-the-term-partner-make-you-curious/563178 "2010-12-06T19:02:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 31

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**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-use-of-the-term-partner-make-you-curious/563178/31 "2010-12-06T21:46:57Z")

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> [@kathmandu](#):
>
> Yeah, that’s a great reason for people to get married. Because you don’t like the word “partner” applied to heterosexual couples. Seriously, people can call their relationships whatever they want. They don’t need your permission.

Call the other your partner, that’s fine. You don’t need my permission, but I’m under no obligation to actually continue referring to them as “your partner” in the future. I’m saying hetero couples co-opting the word is bullshit. I don’t care if you consider your 8 year live-in boyfriend “more than a boyfriend”. Really, I don’t. So I’ll call him your boyfriend cause that’s what he _is_. He’s not your fiance - you’re not there yet. Or your spouse - clearly you’re frightened of the idea.

> [@kathmandu](#):
>
> Oh, by the way, is it okay with you and your uncle if I continue to call the people I shared my law practice with my “partners”? Or should I be pissed off too because gay people have now co-opted that word for themselves?

I was strictly talking about romantic relationships.

Yikes, looks like it really is as easy as they say it is to get into law school. Not my uncle, my boyfriend’s:

> [@lindsaybluth](#):
>
> My SO’s (gay, partnered) uncle has a particularly bad beef with this; he can’t stand hetero couples going around introducing their “partners”.

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