[DrPhil]

(If in an environment where using the person's name would be pointless because people would ask "who is that") I typically use "significant other" or "life partner" because:

1. I find it interesting how people (including me sometimes) are obsessed with announcing the title and status of relationships. God forbid you be legally married, for example, and not announce that you have a "spouse" or more gendered and sexual orientation language like "wife" and "husband." I always pick on my friends who stop using their Partner's name and now always say "my spouse" "my husband" "my wife." It is especially funny when I know the Partner and therefore know the Partner's name quite well. The Partner loses a name and also the relationship has to be announced as a legal union in an "I's married now" format. I eventually want to say "okay...we get it...you're not just 'any kind of relationship'...you're married now...cool."

2. I try to reduce my use of gendered and heterocentric language that people use to overtly and covertly announce and reaffirm sexual orientation; and people use to make ourselves and other people comfortable.

3. I also believe that "boyfriend/girlfriend" expires after a certain age just as being a "girl" or a "boy" expires.

Carrie Bradshaw: He's my boyfriend.
Mr. Big: Aren't I a little old to be introduced as your boyfriend?
Carrie Bradshaw: Point taken. From now on you'll be my man-friend.
Mr. Big: That sounds like a dog.
Carrie Bradshaw: Well if the shoe fits.