I Love Saying the Word “Husband”

And it’s not always about the love of my life.

Author and his husband, Mike. Photo credit: Author

Mike and I were married on April 30, 2005.

As marriage wasn’t legal in Colorado at the time, we called it “A loving act of civil disobedience”.

As times changed and as we realized we wanted to be legally married, we drove to San Diego in February of 2014 and had a legal marriage ceremony performed.

I have loved calling him my husband these past 20 years.

Many times, I use the word "husband" to describe an experience we had or something Mike did or said. It comes very naturally.

Too many times I use the word to clarify that he is not just my partner, but also my husband. It always begins politely, and only gets a little abrasive if the same person continually refers to Mike as my partner and not my husband even though I have used the word husband several times.

Did they not hear me?

Or are they a bigot and simply cannot utter the word husband when referring to the other half of a man?

I always try to give them the benefit of the doubt. Well, I should say that I used to try. These days it feels different. It is different. Sometimes I can tell they are put off by the fact that I am talking about my husband, let…