DEAR MISS MANNERS: We are having a party for our employees and want to be sure we are politically correct with our invitations. We want to invite employees and their spouses or significant others (girls of girls and boys of boys). How do I word this invitation to accommodate our lesbian and gay employees?
GENTLE READER: Although Miss Manners lauds your desire to make everyone feel welcome, you have made her realize that trying too obviously hard to be inoffensive is, in itself, somewhat offensive. Instead of researching all possible personal ties your employees may have, you could use one simple word: "guest." Tell them that you would welcome each of them bringing one guest to the party. Or that each invitation is for two people.