An Associated Press internal memo that suggested the company’s widely used journalism style guide would not recommend the use of the terms husband and wife to describe same-sex couples raised much controversy in the past week.

As was to be expected, AP backed down under the withering fire from homosexual activist groups, and sent the Columbia Journalism Review the following text which AP is adding to its AP Stylebook Online and will appear in the next print edition:

husband, wife Regardless of sexual orientation, husband or wife is acceptable in all references to individuals in any legally recognized marriage. Spouse orpartner may be used if requested.

The Columbia Journalism Review enthusiastically endorses the change here.

The AP Stylebook is almost universally used in the journalism industry, and hence any changes to it have a huge ripple effect on the culture and society.