This conversation doesn't bother me just wondered what everyone else's thoughts are about it ::). So I had this group interview yesterday (which surprisingly was a lot more enjoyable than it sounds :D). We had to go into groups and introduce ourselves; so I was in a group of 2 other people beside myself; both women. They were really nice people; the conversation flowed well and they both mentioned they had children. So I said jokingly that I don't have any children and am all alone (yay to me ;)). And one of the woman asked did I have a partner to which I said no. And then conversation just moved on. Seems strange to say partner instead of girlfriend and you usually use that word instead of bf for a guy. So yeah just wondered if she guessed I was gay as I'm quite fem ::).
I wouldn't read too much into it. I'm seeing the gender neutral terms partner, spouse and SO used more and more in the business world.
My experience has been that it is either as you said - they think you're gay and are using the term partner to be inclusive of anyone you might be dating. OR I've found that a lot of progressive people tend to use partner no matter what.
My optometrist asked me this morning how I wanted to be addressed. It felt weird but nice she would ask. They have it listed in my records that I am on HRT and to refer to me as Dawn.
I'm not sure if it was because she's inclusive and progressive bcos she was in her 50s; which leads me to believe she'd likely use a more widely used term like gf or a more out of date term like partner for bf.