Adjective describing a relationship which is more intense and intimate than is considered common or
normal for a "friendship", but doesn't
fit the traditional sexual-romantic couple
model. It is characterized by a strong bond, love, and emotional commitment, yet is not perceived by those involved as "romantic". The relationship may or
may not have some elements or degree of sexuality/eroticism at various times, or none - it doesn't matter, because sexuality/sexual exclusivity is not what the relationship is organized around. It's defined by the intensity and significance of the emotional connection.
The
people involved do not have to identify as "queer", it's a type of relationship experienced by and available to anybody regardless of their sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or (
non-)monogamy. The
people involved in a queerplatonic relationship
may consider themselves partners, life-partners, a couple, a triad, or any other term that implies the relationship is meaningful, committed and intimate.
Quuerplatonic parters or QPs are sometimes referred to as "zucchini". As in, "he's my zucchini". This was originally a joke within the
asexual/aromantic community, underscoring the lack of words in
mainstream relationship discourse to signify meaningful relationships that do not follow the standard and expected sexual/romantic norms, and frustration with the erasure of other kinds of intimacy, which were perceived as equally valuable to the sexual/romantic model.
The reason that i was uncomfortable with the word '
girlfriend' was that i did not want a romantic relationship and the word seemed to imply one: I think what I may have wanted was a queerplatonic relationship.
I never understood why
people were so opposed to affection of any kind towards people that are not dating, I think the world would be better if everybody could cuddle and it was not weird (kind of like how it used to be in Abe Lincoln's
time when it was normal for
men to sleep in the same bed together as a strictly platonic thing or like queerplatonic relationships maybe).
They told their friend about queerplatonic partnerships the same day they asked their friend if they could be queerplatonic partners, and they said
yes.