Husband or Wife

(Community Matters) Not to be underestimated:

–“New entry in the AP Stylebook: ‘husband, wife'” – AP release: “Regardless of sexual orientation, husband or wife is acceptable in all references to individuals in any legally recognized marriage. Spouse or partner may be used if requested. ‘The AP has never had a Stylebook entry on the question of the usage of husband and wife,’ said AP Senior Managing Editor for U.S. News Mike Oreskes. ‘All the previous conversation was in the absence of such a formal entry. This lays down clear and simple usage. After reviewing existing practice, we are formalizing ‘husband, wife’ as an entry.'” http://bit.ly/YgrH58

Reminds me – last week sitting down to breakfast with a new company CEO, I referred to my husband. He looked confused and asked me to repeat what I’d just said. I knew what was going on but feigned not catching his confusion. When I clarified that Steven Tomlinson was my husband, he just looked at me, gulped and said, “ok, I thought that’s what you said.” I knew he wasn’t reacting with prejudice; he just hadn’t ever heard a man call another man his husband. That’s okay. He dealt with it just fine, and we left committed to pursuing a business relationship.