Partner or Boyfriend/girlfriend?

I see the term Partner used instead of boyfriend/girlfriend when talking about gay relationships. Any reason for this? Or do those people just prefer the term 'partner' ?
Its just something i've noticed...

I'd rather be called a boyfriend than a partner >.<

What do you think?

[heatqueen]

Girlfriend.

[Fiorino]

I think partner is more of a long-term thing, and g/f or b/f is less of a permanent commitment.

[Jeimuzu]

Partner, in my opinion, is a long term thing. Also, older guys. After all, it's not boyfriend after a certain age, surely it's manfriend?

I would use boyfriend, I HATE the term partner and especially "life partner"...haha

Originally Posted by MAbrtdFts

I would use boyfriend, I HATE the term partner and especially "life partner"...haha

Yeah, it sounds too artificial

[charlie12]

I like the sound of boyfriend much better.

I only ever use partners if i'm talking about multiple sexes/orientations but useually i use boyfriend when refering to my boyfriend, see lol i did it there

[ccdd]

I think that people who are older (like of my parents' generation) use the word "partner". I have heard this word used in the context of heterosexual couples too, within the middle-aged age-range. However, being young, I'd probably use girlfriend...although my problem is, sometimes people use that word to mean female friend, so uh...yeah, I'd probably still use girlfriend actually.

I don't know, but in my experience the distinction between girlfriend/boyfriend and partner is more of an age one, than a sexual orientation one.

[hoping]

i like boyfriend better for some reason

[DownUnder]

I prefer bf/gf but i think to some degree people, regardless of what generation they come from refer to them as partners because it makes them slightly more comfortable when talking about it. Although I have seen people use the term for heterosexual relationships too, i believe it is something that society has come to justify - the homosexual relationship has partners as opposed to two boyfriends/girlsfriends. Or at least round where i've grown up it does.

[Jim1454]

I guess it depends on the situation. 'partner' to me means a longer term commitment. When I hear someone refer to their 'partner' rather than their 'husband' or their 'wife' it is an indication that it might be a same-sex relationship... without coming out and explicitly saying that it is.

I currently refer to my bf as my bf.

[Tim]

I'd feel more comfortable if someone called me their boyfriend until we were more commited, in which case I'd prefer partner, just because that says long term to me, :3

[Owen]

I think partner arose from the era when homosexuality was still largely frowned upon and homosexuals would have wanted to separate themselves from heterosexuals. The term "partner" was one way of doing that. Of course, now, we can use whatever we want. I would personally use boyfriend, and eventually, husband.

[waitingsucks]

Well I think partner is very important for people who are in a long term commitment. I know these two guys who have been together for 20 years or something, that's longer than a lot of marriages and I think they need a word to validate their relationship more than the word "boyfriend" especially b/c they can't get married and if they could they would in a heart beat.

But yeah I agree I don't like the term "life partner" but really it's whatever you want, I have noticed that a lot of straight people use the term partner as well, but yeah I guess it's always a preference thing.

[sexyalex]

i have never been in a relationship however i don't see anything with calling ur partner.....partner.

for me personally i would prefer to say boyfriend/girlfriend vise versa. (idk why i said girlfriend...i just think half of me is female )

GOSH i am soo messed up, i mean...u should all see the things i do!(privatly of course)

[sdc91]

Pshh, I'm just going to call him my husband.

Boyfriend when we're dating, husband when committed.

[neverover]

i think partner is a permanent version of boyfriend. i think its weird when ur settled down with a guy, and have rings together, but still called it a boyfriend.

[tehnathan]

I like the term "partner" as it implies something more long-term.

I say "boyfriend" here of course but usually "partner" anywhere else.

Boyfriend.
Somehow, the word "partner" irks me. I don't know why, it's like "marriage" for some reason. I just can't see myself in that situation