I can't deny it -- I'm bothered by the whole Second Gentleman thing. First, because he's not second (from a programmatic point of view). Second, because even First and Second Lady are kind of weird at this point.
What are we going to do when there is a Lesbian couple in the White House? One is President, the other First Lady? And of course it's only a matter of time, nowadays, until various variants some alternating or not settled on gender, take power.
Truthfully, I don't see why they have to have any title or function. But to the extent they do, time has come to go gender neutral, clearly.
I do have some concerns that this may not adequately cover polyamory and polygamy cases -- what would you call the second wife or third husband -- not to mention confusion over divorces.
Improvement suggestions welcome.-- theircompetitor, Dec 23 2021 All references to gender should be eliminated including the word gender. I think the word "word" might be offensive to some groups as well and should be on the list of "words" to be banned once we can figure out what the title of the list should be.
What was the idea again? [-], no wait [+].-- doctorremulac3, Dec 23 2021 + I don’t think this has any of the issues stated above in [ a1] ‘s case for deletion. This is a current issue, not only important to the author!-- xandram, Dec 24 2021 What [a1] said is probably right but, while we're here, the word "consort" is probably the one you're looking for.
It's ungendered, can be either a noun or a verb, and the original metaphor is from sharing the fate or life-chances of another person.
Actually, wait; some people are still going to sneer about "co- dependency" (see [dr3]'s anno). Never mind.-- pertinax, Dec 24 2021 I think everyone should be married to the President by default. That'd solve it.-- RayfordSteele, Dec 24 2021 That sounds a bit too much like droit de seigneur to me.-- pertinax, Dec 24 2021 I started thinking about the "First Spouse" situation when Hilary looked kike she might get there; but I had a thought just now in the opposite direction: Given that the position of "First Lady" (or whatever...) seems to have it's own detailed job description beyond "married to the president", what would happen if the president was single? Who would be tasked with all the "First Lady" responsibilities?-- neutrinos_shadow, Dec 24 2021 //Truthfully, I don't see why they have to have any title or function.// yeah, ditto. Politico's seem to be quite vociforous when it comes to protecting their family from public view/scrutiny but quite keen to parade them in front of the media when it suits their purposes. I second the m-f-d however!-- DrBob, Dec 24 2021 Good point [neutrinos] about the prez being single, but it isn’t really allowed. Everything is such bullshit. Even all this gender crap. I’m sure getting old because I truly have no tolerance for any of these things! I still wouldn’t mfd this.
And I never agreed with the position of * first*.-- xandram, Dec 24 2021 I think I read somewhere that the "First Lady" role was mostly an invention by or for Eleanor Roosevelt. Does that ring true?-- pertinax, Dec 24 2021 No. See Dolley Madison.-- RayfordSteele, Dec 24 2021 thanks for the history lesson.[a1] Part of my misunderstanding was because I had worked for a millionaire, state representative and when his wife left him he was in such a hurry to find another wife because he told me his position sort of required that. I guess I just feel stupid to believe him.-- xandram, Dec 24 2021 random, halfbakery