

I use it in a heterosexual relationship because it sounds weird to call my partner of 20 years my girlfriend when we are both 40. We just aren’t married, so if I said wife people would question why I don’t wear a ring.
Though if people thought I was gay, who gives a fuck? It’s current year after all.
Exactly, who cares? It will come up in general conversation if we know each other long enough, if we don’t then it doesn’t matter.
People get too hung up on pigeon holing people as soon as they meet them.