When I hear “partner” referring to a non-business relationship, my default assumption is a gay relationship, however, it depends on the person using it and the circumstances. It does make me think about it. I could not care less, other than wanting to be correct about the meaning and not just make an assumption. For point of reference, I’m 51, in the US, and the word partner was not used to describe a romantic/sexual relationship when I was growing up, so it may stand out more to me.
On the other hand, I’m still at a loss as to what word to use to refer to my relationship. As much as a certain poster may think she has the lock on what words everyone can use, I won’t use the word “boyfriend”. The man I’ve been involved with for 7 years and have lived with for half that time, is not a boy, at least chronologically speaking. I won’t comment on his maturity level. But nevertheless, he is not a boy and I’m not 16 and I do not have a “boyfriend”, thank you very much. We’re adults, with grandchildren, and houses and big people stuff. So I most often refer to him by name and people can figure out that I’m talking about someone with whom I’m in a committed relationship. Sometimes I’ll use “significant other” and less often “partner” because a conversation will force an identification of some kind. I’ve also used “the guy I live with” and other ridiculously lengthy and unwieldy things. There’s really no good term I’ve yet heard that works well for me. Manfriend? Nah. Guyfriend? Nah. I don’t know. Spousal Unit is one I’ve used lately, but since we’re not legally married, I guess it’s not really accurate. Although, I guess I could just solve it all by getting married, which apparently I’m afraid to do or something or I’m not really in a serious relationship because I’m not married, I just think I am. Who knew? Oh, apparently, LindsayBluth, definer of all relationships did. Silly me.