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pnwmom

(110,291 posts)

29. Most straight couples will continue to refer to their husbands and wives.

Thu Feb 21, 2013, 08:54 PM

Feb 2013

All gay people are asking is to be able to to the same thing, and the meaning will be the same.

Any male member of a married couple can be called "husband" and any female member, "wife." The words will be no more archaic than any other words -- in fact, less so, with the meanings extended to same-sex couples.

You say you "would" just as happily be called a spouse. But is that the term you actually use in your real life -- or do you and your spouse usually say, "my husband" or "my wife"?

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AP To Use �Husband, Wife� Regardless Of Sexual Orientation [View all] DonViejo Feb 2013 OP

Maybe I'm not understanding but that sounds ridiculous. Happyhippychick Feb 2013 #1

I assume that's what they mean. subterranean Feb 2013 #7

I hope that's the case. The article was poorly worded! Happyhippychick Feb 2013 #19

I was wondering the same thing too. brush Feb 2013 #42

Maybe TPM needs a style guide. JackRiddler Feb 2013 #57

husband OR wife....perfectly acceptable.. Evasporque Feb 2013 #40

What's wrong with "spouse"? Scairp Feb 2013 #52

Why not just "spouses" for everyone? frazzled Feb 2013 #2

yes, gender neutral terms would solve the problem quite neatly Gormy Cuss Feb 2013 #9

Someone needs to edit the TPM article, or the AP manual then frazzled Feb 2013 #11

Oh, agreed. It's terrible writing. Gormy Cuss Feb 2013 #12

They had a gender neutral term in "partner" marshall Feb 2013 #49

Because most gay couples would rather be "husband and husband" pnwmom Feb 2013 #14

But I'm part of a straight couple and would just as happily be called a "spouse" frazzled Feb 2013 #16

Fine. But why would you object to another option that many gay people pnwmom Feb 2013 #22

And some do not frazzled Feb 2013 #28

Most straight couples will continue to refer to their husbands and wives. pnwmom Feb 2013 #29

Terms to use-staight couples cartach Feb 2013 #31

What? pnwmom Feb 2013 #34

Wait a minute leftynyc Feb 2013 #3

No... DonViejo Feb 2013 #6

That's what I thought leftynyc Feb 2013 #39

Buffoonery. truthisfreedom Feb 2013 #4

Why do you have a problem with this? Liberalagogo Feb 2013 #10

"I always hated the word "partner". It made it sound like all gay people were in law firms." RILib Feb 2013 #46

Would you care to explain yourself, Occulus Feb 2013 #59

Wait, what? krispos42 Feb 2013 #5

No... DonViejo Feb 2013 #8

Yes, exactly krispos42 Feb 2013 #24

Several weeks ago, DonViejo Feb 2013 #45

well, why not just let people decide? I don't care. I call my spouse my husband because CTyankee Feb 2013 #20

Maybe I'm mis-reading it then krispos42 Feb 2013 #25

maybe gay people prefer it that way? Ever thought of that? CTyankee Feb 2013 #27

Yes, I did, actually krispos42 Feb 2013 #30

No, I actually looked at it and it said that other designations could be used. CTyankee Feb 2013 #58

Seriously Liberalagogo Feb 2013 #13

I don't get it either Blasphemer Feb 2013 #18

"spouse" Bernardo de La Paz Feb 2013 #15

Doesn't convey the gender of the spouse sweetloukillbot Feb 2013 #23

The gender of the spouse does not matter. That's the point of marriage equality! Bernardo de La Paz Feb 2013 #33

Do you know anyone who, in casual conversation, refers to his or her spouse pnwmom Feb 2013 #35

Informal conversation (like DU swearing) is not journalistic writing. nt Bernardo de La Paz Feb 2013 #36

Then when in journalist writing are husbands and wives pnwmom Feb 2013 #37

https://www.google.com/search?tbm=nws&q=spouse Heywood J Feb 2013 #63

The point of marriage equality is being able to marry regardless of gender, Occulus Feb 2013 #60

I don't mind being known as the wife in the marriage. Coolest Ranger Feb 2013 #17

I wanted to ask, what do gay married folk want to be called? Skittles Feb 2013 #51

If I ever get married I'll let you know but the marriage is not top on my agenda right now Coolest Ranger Feb 2013 #53

well, I have never understood the appeal of marriage Skittles Feb 2013 #61

Skittles you are bad LOL Coolest Ranger Feb 2013 #62

Future lawsuit for 'mis-labeling' the husband and/or wife during a 'partner' type story?? benld74 Feb 2013 #21

I think it should be... Mike Nelson Feb 2013 #26

Why not "husband" for all married men and "wife" for all married women? pnwmom Feb 2013 #38

That's fine, too... Mike Nelson Feb 2013 #54

I think that's what the AP policy is -- to refer to people as they prefer. n/t pnwmom Feb 2013 #56

And the limits of the english language become evident once again. Scootaloo Feb 2013 #32

AP to use teltron and geffle for identifying married individuals Evasporque Feb 2013 #41

"Liberal media" that CAVES to right wing whining. N/t alp227 Feb 2013 #43

This makes perfect sense cthulu2016 Feb 2013 #44

The husband is male, the wife female rocktivity Feb 2013 #47

And what happens when the name does not indicate gender? randome Feb 2013 #55

A simple search will confirm dipsydoodle Feb 2013 #48

Love AP Stylebook. RebelOne Feb 2013 #50