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The Associated Press, only two months after from the announcement that the word “homophobia” did not meet their style guidelines, decided last week to be homophobic. Their guidelines would now no longer permit the use of “husband” or “wife” for persons in legal marriages when the partner was same-sex.
GLAAD summarizes the AP position:
GLAAD reached out to the Associated Press today for clarification on a memo reportedly circulated today that appears to instruct writers to use different vocabulary to describe legally married same-sex couples than they would use to describe opposite-sex couples.
This morning, journalist and media reporter Jim Romenesko posted this item, regarding an internal memo from the Associated Press that covered how they choose to refer to a same-sex couple that is married:
SAME-SEX COUPLES: We were asked how to report about same-sex couples who call themselves “husband” and “wife.” Our view is that such terms may be used in AP stories with attribution. Generally AP uses couples or partners to describe people in civil unions or same-sex marriages.
Later, AP spokespeople told Romenesko that the memo had been revised and reissued, and that this was the correct version:
SAME-SEX COUPLES: We were asked how to report about same-sex couples who call themselves “husband” and “wife.” Our view is that such terms may be used in AP content if those involved have regularly used those terms (“Smith is survived by his husband, John Jones”) or in quotes attributed to them. Generally AP uses couples or partners to describe people in civil unions or same-sex marriages.
The ensuing protest included an effort by one physician in the Central Valley of California to organize couples to write to the AP one at a time to advise that “we regularly use these terms.” Now, though, the AP has backed down. The AP will use the term “husband” to apply to a male partner in any legal marriage and the term “wife” to apply to the female partner in any legal marriage, regardless of the gender of the partner.
Another small step for equality.
The Associated Press stated Thursday that “husband” and “wife” are “acceptable in all references” to same-sex married couples, reversing an internal style guidance initially publicized by Jim Romenesko this past week.
In a news release Thursday, the AP states, “The following entry was added today to the AP Stylebook Online and also will appear in the new print edition and Stylebook Mobile, published in the spring.” This is the new entry:
husband, wife: Regardless of sexual orientation, husband or wife is acceptable in all references to individuals in any legally recognized marriage. Spouse or partner may be used if requested.
The style guidance issued this past week had said the terms “husband” or “wife” could only could be used with same-sex married couples “if those involved have regularly used those terms … or in quotes attributed to them.” Instead, the guidance continued, “Generally AP uses couples or partners to describe people in civil unions or same-sex marriages.”
Nice to see the AP agree that the legal marriages in the nine states (and DC) that permit them aren’t any different with regard to how the partners’ titles should be reported. What a silly unforced error by AP!
Photo by Ernst Vikne under Creative Commons license
12 Comments
I wonder if the AP was starting to be inundated with individual announcements that “we call each other husband; please do the same should the occasion arise!” or “we call each other husband; please do the same should the occasion arise!” as the Central Valley doctor did.
The AP is such an anachronism in a connected digital age, but I do worry that small-town papers that subscribe and use their copy might look at them as an arbiter and opinion leader. Sort of like the people who think the Sunday morning gabfests are some kind of insider-revelatory chat that actually matter?
As more married GLBTs join the AP workforce, the number of these errors should drop. One would hope.
Thanks, Teddy!
Teddy, Thanks for the update and to all those who pushed-back and made a difference.
I had offered to allow married ladies to use the word “husband” for themselves and each other, because so many people think the word “wife” contains too much patriarchal baggage (and they are right!). Only “husbands” enter marriages willingly, without dower or arrangement or force. Only “husbands” retain free will upon marriage. Only “husbands” keep their own names.
It’s still a worthwhile proposal, I think. Let’s degender-fy the word “husband” so that it can become “equal married partner.”
The AP is very controlled, and has been known to cover scientific hearings, and then totally report the event in terms of what industry needs to have us readers hear. This includes discarding the actual quoted material they have from researchers, with quotes they then make up! Who owns this organization? Are they RW Christians, who also own Energy and Oil Interests?
But doesn’t “husband” have an inherent meaning of superiority over the household he, or she, is managing, or husbanding?
This seems like it could be a learning and thinking opportunity beyond just expanding some fossilized terms and concepts to a larger class without examining them.
well AP is a ass, a idiot, for not getting it right the first time. but hallelujah anyway.
Well, I agree.
And that may be why I think the word works for both partners, regardless of gender. Your (and others’) mileage may vary. And I agree it needs discussion.
For now, though, I think women who aren’t happy with “wife” could use “husband” and we should respect and support that.
Shouldn’t the AP use Husband for both people in the marriage regardless of gender?
Isn’t that the best way to promote gender equality?
It’s okay to use the word gender as long as it’s not defined as 2 different genders, or limited to only 2 genders.
I heard there’s a professor at Harvard or Yale that refuses to use gender and chooses to self describe as “none” or “other”.
In a way I feel sorry for the AP, it’s tough to come up with a standard. . . should it be Husband / Husband, and Wife / Wife, or Husband / Wife, or Husband for everyone, or Spouse for everyone?
Hi Teddy, in both my unions (one same-sex, one hetero) we used, and still use, ‘spouse’ or ‘partner’. ‘Husband’ => guardian, shepherd, superior, and ‘wife’ also has a ton of baggage. OTOH, if they wants baggage, ‘sfine with me, but IMHO it’s nobody’s business who wears the ‘pants’ and shouldn’t happen in *any* marriage. Unless somebody wants bragging rights. Cheeses, people, why use corrupt terminology when you can start clean? Should ‘husbands’ of whatever sex get a nice caveman club, too?
If they are both husbands, both get clubs, regardless of gender.
IOW, the AP finally deigns to recognize state law.