re: #187 Michele: Out of the closet, Into the fire
Well actually, the issue (minor as it is) is in not so much as to what her place /description in our relationship is. She has been and will always be my Wife. After 34 years of marriage, that is not going to change (her words). It’s how do we now describe MY place in the relationship. Obviously, I can no longer be her “husband” and calling me her “wife” will get your head ripped off. We have more or less settled on partner for the time being.
All that being said, labels suck.
Jennifer Finney Boylan , a columnist for the NY Times, is in the similar situation as you — she’s been married to her spouse for 31 years; they have 2 children from before she transitioned.