Quote:Why is there a need for gender neutral terms? A man and woman who are married are in fact husband and wife. And the fact that these words are considered offensive is beyond something I can wrap my head around. If it's same sex couples who are offended then what they want to call each other is what can be added to whatever law this pertains to. 

 

It's not that they are considered offensive, it's that in this day and age when we are trying to treat people as equals regardless of sex, the laws should not be written in a way that treats men and women differently.   Why does it matter to the law if a person is a husband and not a wife or vice versa?   It shouldn't.   Hence the need to refer to "spouse" and not "husband" or "wife."  

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