Queerplatonic

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Queerplatonic relationship ("QPR") or queerplatonic partnership ("QPP") are umbrella terms to indicate that a relationship defies the divide between romantic partnership and "just" friends. Queerplatonic has been used to describe feelings and relationships of either/both a nonromantic or ambiguously-romantic nature, in order to express that they break one or more social norms for relationships.

For example, some of the social norms for friendship, in some cultures, dictate that friendships are emotionally shallow compared to romance, are fleeting, short-term, or noncommited, and do not involve partnership ties. Social norms for romantic relationships dictate that romantic relationships will always be more important than friendships, that romantic partners should move in together and coordinate their lives together as a monogamous pair, and that only romantic partners should adopt, raise children, or even engage in certain forms of affection such as kissing or hand-holding. These norms are also sometimes called amatonormativity. Relationships can be considered queerplatonic when they break any of these or similar norms.

The term "queerplatonic," first suggested in 2010, is a combination of the term platonic (sometimes used to describe friendship) with the term "queer," as in different. It is open to being used by people of any identity.

Because queerplatonic is an umbrella term, participants in QPRs may choose any terminology they like for each other. These participants may consider themselves friends, partners, life-partners, a couple, a triad, or use any other words that suit them. There is also a queerplatonic-specific partner term, as well -- Zucchini -- although its usage is less common.

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