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Do straight young people use the term 'partner'?

Posted on 8/16/25 at 4:40 pm
Posted by Smeg
Member since Aug 2018
14234 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 4:40 pm
Met a new guy, business related, the other day. Making small talk, he mentioned moving to the area to be with his 'partner' instead of girlfriend or wife.



I didn't know much about this younger generation. I thought only gay people used that term, but this kid was about 25. Otherwise I would have figured him for straight. Does the younger generation use 'gender neutral' terms like 'partner', similar to putting he/him pronouns in their email signature? (Not saying this guy uses pronouns - we never communicated by email.)
Posted by Herschal
Land of the Free
Member since Sep 2011
2100 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 4:41 pm to
No
Posted by FLBooGoTigs1
Nocatee, FL.
Member since Jan 2008
58508 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 4:42 pm to
I don't remember telling my gf now wife I am going to need you to bend over Partner.

Definitely a gay thing
Posted by TigerSharkMan
Member since Aug 2025
198 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 4:44 pm to
Honestly, like most things, I now find it depends on their politics. Young liberals, heck even liberals up until 40 or 45, they definitely use "partner" instead of girlfriend or wife. Young conservatives almost always use girlfriend or wife though. Easy way to tell their political views without even having to ask. Kind of like the pronoun stuff.
This post was edited on 8/16/25 at 4:45 pm
Posted by Keys Open Doors
In hiding with Tupac & XXXTentacion
Member since Dec 2008
32741 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 4:45 pm to
Ive heard it a few times from guys dating chicks (and pretty attractive ones, at that).

They’ve always been either under 30 or European.
Posted by Saintsisit
Member since Jan 2013
5036 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 4:46 pm to
I call her My Bitch.


Of course Coyote calls Nymeria his Bitch too. But with a different meaning.
Posted by S
RIP Wayde
Member since Jan 2007
168339 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 4:47 pm to
Do straight young people call cookies biscuits?
This post was edited on 8/16/25 at 4:47 pm
Posted by FLBooGoTigs1
Nocatee, FL.
Member since Jan 2008
58508 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 4:48 pm to
I agree that sounds about right. Never heard a straight man or woman call there significant other partner.
Posted by billjamin
Houston
Member since Jun 2019
16305 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 4:48 pm to
I know a lot of divorced adults that use it. Kinda weird to use the bf or gf term in your 30s or 40s.
Posted by Brosef Stalin
Member since Dec 2011
41490 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 4:53 pm to
If he said partner, he's gay. If he said podnuh, he's from New Iberia.
Posted by BoardReader
Arkansas
Member since Dec 2007
7361 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 4:55 pm to
Either he likes drinking it straight from a male tap, or cleaning it out of her when the bull is done, assuming he really was talking about a woman.
Posted by Bison
Truth or Consequences
Member since Dec 2016
1300 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 4:58 pm to
I was talking to a new client this week whose martial status was listed as single.

During the call he kept mentioning “Jane “ and also mention he had a daughter.

So I eventually I asking him “ is Jane your partner?”

He said yes and we moved on without missing a beat.

In this case, I used “partner “ as a catch all term bc I didn’t know if it was his girlfriend or fiancé.

Didn’t seem awkward or gay. If he was married , I probably would’ve have asked “is Jane your daughter or wife?”

I’ve heard it used by “straights” before. Not as common but who really gives a crap.
Posted by REB BEER
Laffy Yet
Member since Dec 2010
17616 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 4:59 pm to
I’ve heard it more and more lately. When I hear it, I automatically assume they’re gay.

Even if they’re not, they might as well be.
Posted by TooFyeToFly
Atlanta, Georgia
Member since Nov 2012
2022 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 5:18 pm to
A lot of young liberals today use partner instead of boyfriend/girlfriend, but most people will assume you're gay if you use it.
Posted by jizzle6609
Houston
Member since Jul 2009
17236 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 5:19 pm to
If you have a wife and you say “partner” you like watching her get fricked by other dudes.
Posted by DonJuanDaMiles
San Diego, CA
Member since Feb 2014
1174 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 5:23 pm to
Yes. It’s a new effort for straight people who are “allies” to use a common word so when gays refer to their partner, it’s been normalized and doesn’t out them as gay (as it was described to me be a girl I dated who was bi)
Posted by BeesWax
Member since Mar 2025
695 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 5:30 pm to
quote:

as it was described to me be a girl I dated who was bi

I noticed this relationship didn’t last. Did you learn your lesson?
Posted by NawlinsTiger9
Where the mongooses roam
Member since Jan 2009
38211 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 5:32 pm to
Yeah I’ve heard it

For adults who aren’t married yet, I can see where “girlfriend/boyfriend” can sound kinda juvenile

Nothing is worse than “ol lady”

FWIW, I’m not a fan.
Posted by AUstar
Member since Dec 2012
19126 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 5:32 pm to
I haven't heard it much in the US but all Canadians say "partner." They are all woke af there, so it's no surprise.
Posted by tigerfan88
Member since Jan 2008
8657 posts
Posted on 8/16/25 at 5:33 pm to
It’s because people are getting married later and way longer into serious relationships. No one uses partner instead of wife or husband.

But straight people use it to describe their significant other when it’s someone they’ve been with for several years and share a house and life with, but for whatever reason haven’t married yet. It sounds juvenile to constantly refer to your “girlfriend”’or “boyfriend” at a certain point, and it often doesn’t properly convey the seriousness of the relationship.

But by all means continue to twist it into another weird reason to hate the libs because they’re trying to turn everyone gay
This post was edited on 8/16/25 at 5:35 pm
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