That can still be problematic; I have a friend who is really bugged (and I believe her partner is as well) by people referring to them as "girlfriends," because a) that's not the term they use and b) her partner is genderqueer and does not consider "girlfriend" to be an accurate term.
If I were slightly more vested in what other people say, I'd be bothered by people referring to me and my partner as "boyfriend" and "girlfriend," because those terms are used much more broadly and do not imply the commitment level of "partners."
I don't necessarily interpret malice into people changing up terms, but I still think it is polite to use the terms people prefer for themselves.
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Date: 2011-06-18 01:10 am (UTC)If I were slightly more vested in what other people say, I'd be bothered by people referring to me and my partner as "boyfriend" and "girlfriend," because those terms are used much more broadly and do not imply the commitment level of "partners."
I don't necessarily interpret malice into people changing up terms, but I still think it is polite to use the terms people prefer for themselves.