It’s almost the 2nd anniversary of our getting married - well, civilly partnered. It’s not that momentous a date - we’d been together over 17 years before we could tie the knot - but it does make me think (again!) how far things have come. But then, apparently not far enough…
Yesterday I made a phone call to renew our annual travel insurance policy. Although both our names are registered with the insurer and the policy type is ‘Couple’, I was asked if the additional person is my girlfriend or wife. I replied “Partner”. A brief bemused silence was followed by “Is that Miss or Mrs?”. “Neither, he’s a Mr”, was my curt response. Whether it was my accent, my delivery (I mumble, apparently - can’t be true) or just not-the-right-answer, I’m not sure but the person-I-would-not-be-inviting-to-dinner didn’t understand that. To her further enquiry I snapped “He’s a bloke! His name on your policy documents is ‘Mr Andrew…’!” I think that went home because it was just followed by “And can I just check that he’s 48?”. Disarmed by this surrealism I agreed that this is indeed the case (though that’s also clearly on the paperwork - but then he does only look 18). I then submitted to the health questions we all presumably get (no I’m not about to die as far as I’m aware - if I was I’d be on the holiday, not just thinking about it).
Well, at least that gave me a story to tell - I’m not devastated by it. In a relatively harmless way it reminds me (and now you) there’s still plenty to achieve in the UK, never mind the rest of the world. Originally adopted to convey pride, ‘Gay’ is more forcefully than ever an insult; kids are bullied terribly; some executives, politicians and actors still keep quiet because of the perceived impact on their careers; rappers incite hatred against us and bishops see us as unemployable.
I’m hoping to attend a Stonewall Supporters Briefing in May where the theme will be Post parliamentary success - the challenge of changing hearts and minds. I’m really looking forward to pushing further forward with this part of the process of change. If we thought changing laws was hard…
Congrats on the 2 and the 17 before them, you’ll have to do something grand for your “unofficial”20th :-)
Great post, I had the opposite reaction with Direct Line, the girl couldnt wait to put us down as partners, even though I pointed out the we were having our partnership 2 months after the insurance renewal. I accepted the discount graciously!