You are starting out with a new relationship with someone, but don’t want to use the usual boyfriend/girlfriend terms. You want to go with other gender-neutral alternatives and try something new. This can be useful when you are in a same-gender relationship and are insecure about coming out in public. You want to call your partner with names that would not lead to undesirable questions coming from countless people. Even if you are in a straight relationship, you can go for something different just to spice it up.

Here are a few such alternatives you can use with your partners:

The Secretive Ones

1. Buddy

Buddy means a friend but it can be used between partners in a relationship too as it is less awkward than using the term friend. I’m having sex with my sex buddy sounds less awkward than I’m having sex with my sex friend. Since it is totally gender neutral, gay men can use this term with their partners even in front of people they don’t want to reveal their relationship to.

2. Partner

You can keep announcing that you like working with your partner but unless you add the prefix life to the word partner, no one considers it in a romantic sense. It’s safe to use this term with people you like without having to do the explaining.

The Public Ones

1. Bae

You can use this term with your sweetheart if you both are open about your relationship. It sounds cooler than the conventional terms and is gender-neutral, which makes it applicable in a variety of relationships.

2. Honey

This is not a new term to start with but if you are in a deeply romantic relationship, calling each other honey will be completely fine for you guys.

Gender Neutral Names And Homophobia

The LGBTQ+ community is growing now and more and more people are coming out proudly. But some societies even after the reforms made regarding the LGBTQ+ community, harbour homophobia among the general public. Queer people have nothing to be ashamed of or have fear in their hearts, but nevertheless, it’s not easy facing a whole society in practical cases. Gender-neutral alternatives to boyfriend/girlfriend terms in a relationship can prove out to be helpful for the queers who are not yet ready to open up.

Also read: Open Relationships – How Much Open Are We For It?

Using gender-neutral terms in a relationship can be fun. You should try coming up with something new and unique too. You just need to think about it.