Ha! I REALLY support gay marriage now!

[Johnny Mayberry]

Ok, so I am at work, reading an article about Dick Gephart's lesbian daughter, and something struck me as odd. So, I re-read the part about her and her girlfriend. Of course, the article doesn't use the word 'girlfriend'. Then it hit me...if I think the word 'partner' is odd and sort of detatched, how must a gay person feel, since they are often stuck with it in 'mixed company'? I may be way off base here, but to me, it explains why gay marriage may be important from an emotional level, on top of all the practical uses. If I was in love with someone, sleeping with them, buying a house with them, and planning on spending the rest of my life with them why would I want to use a word that makes it sound like we are running a used bookstore together?

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

I'm proud of you JM, keep up the good work on your road to enlightenment and commen sense. *gives a hug and a kiss on the cheek*

 

[ExistentialLuv]

Good for you Sweetie. Glad you are coming around.

I myself have never refered to PJ as my partner. I let everyone know she is my Girlfriend.

 

[Queersetti]

Ok, so I am at work, reading an article about Dick Gephart's lesbian daughter, and something struck me as odd. So, I re-read the part about her and her girlfriend. Of course, the article doesn't use the word 'girlfriend'. Then it hit me...if I think the word 'partner' is odd and sort of detatched, how must a gay person feel, since they are often stuck with it in 'mixed company'? I may be way off base here, but to me, it explains why gay marriage may be important from an emotional level, on top of all the practical uses. If I was in love with someone, sleeping with them, buying a house with them, and planning on spending the rest of my life with them why would I want to use a word that makes it sound like we are running a used bookstore together?

That's an excellent insight, Johnny. I feel much the same about "significant other". It sounds so clinical.

 

[sdedalus]

Maybe someday we can have a gender blind society where you can just say my wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend. My girlfriend is at a school right now where there are several lesbian couples, when I talk to them I always address their "partner" as their girlfriend, after all that is what they are. I agree partner sounds stupid when you are talking about being in love with someone.

SD

 

[Johnny Mayberry]

Uh huh...I mean, if two guys are in a lifelong committed relationship, and one is inroducing the other to someone, they should be able to legally say 'my husband', not 'co-signer of a civil union contract'. Covering the truth in a euphemism don't change the truth.

 

[Pookie]

Re: Re: Ha! I REALLY support gay marriage now!

That's an excellent insight, Johnny. I feel much the same about "significant other". It sounds so clinical.

I agree. "Significant other" seems so ... well ... insignificant.

I have plenty of significant people in my life. I don't need the most significant one to be labeled an "other".

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

I read somewhere that in olden times a noble would often have to marry for political gain, sometimes not meeting his or her spouse for many years, but would still have the love of their life with them as their consort.

Also, when married but not in line for the throne, (Such as Queen Elizabeth's husband) the person would be referred to as prince consort.

From Webster:

Main Entry: 1con·sort
Pronunciation: 'kän-"sort
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin consort-, consors partner, sharer, from com- + sort-, sors lot, share -- more at SERIES
Date: 15th century
1 : ASSOCIATE
2 : a ship accompanying another
3 : SPOUSE -- compare PRINCE CONSORT

I rather like the term, myself, and my daughter refers to her girlfriend as her consort. "This is my boyfriend, and this is my consort."

 

[Lovepotion69]

In Sweden we say wither "partner" or boyfriend/girlfriend. Partner is kinda ok to say I guess, as heterosexual people refer to their SO as that too now and then.

In the Swedish entertainment industry there are a few prominent openly gay/lebian couples. In interviews and articles the partners are referred to as bf/gf.

Personally I hardly ever refer to my boyfriend as "my boyfriend". For some reason I find it slightly annoying at times when people say that all the time, after all the bf/gf has a name. I just say his name. But that's just me.

 

[Netzach]

Maybe I'm hopelessly unromantic, but I've always LIKED partner. Two people with the same interests, pointed in the same direction, sounds sane when so little sanity exists in relationships.


I'm ambivilant about marriage rights. (ducking) I think everyone should have them, don't get me wrong! But I think hetero marriages could learn a LOT from GLBT partnerships, I think marriage should look more like civil union, not the opposite. I think queer people get involved in partnerships more the way they have kids, after a lot of thought, agonizing and uphill battle, not just in the knee jerk, "well this is what we grow up and do, I dunno why", way that heteros often find themselves married.

 

[TulaneCowboy]

Uh huh...I mean, if two guys are in a lifelong committed relationship, and one is inroducing the other to someone, they should be able to legally say 'my husband', not 'co-signer of a civil union contract'. Covering the truth in a euphemism don't change the truth.

Well said!

Matt and I aren't legally married. I'm legally married to a woman. Nonetheless, Matthew is my husband and is referred to as such.

 

[Etoile]

Way to go, Johnny! Thanks for bringing up a cool topic, too.

I use "girlfriend" most often, but I use "partner" in professional-type situations. It gets the point across most of the time. I use "wife" when I want to shock somebody.

 

[Johnny Mayberry]

Maybe I'm hopelessly unromantic, but I've always LIKED partner. Two people with the same interests, pointed in the same direction, sounds sane when so little sanity exists in relationships.


I'm ambivilant about marriage rights. (ducking) I think everyone should have them, don't get me wrong! But I think hetero marriages could learn a LOT from GLBT partnerships, I think marriage should look more like civil union, not the opposite. I think queer people get involved in partnerships more the way they have kids, after a lot of thought, agonizing and uphill battle, not just in the knee jerk, "well this is what we grow up and do, I dunno why", way that heteros often find themselves married.

Oh, I agree completely...if a homosexual relationship makes it through all the uphill battles, and becomes a lifelong commitment, it most likely has a strength that doesn't necesarily exist in alot of heterosexual marriages. Alot of straight people get married because they reach a certain age, and feel like that have to. I almost got married, and I have to admit that social pressure played a big part in it. If gay folks wanna get married despite societal pressure against it, I think it probably does mean that they are serious about it, and are doing it for the right reasons.