Savage Love Column Tackles Relationship Dilemmas: Control and Suspected Emotional Affair
The Portland Mercury's "Savage Love" column addresses two reader submissions. The first concerns a 47-year-old divorced father who "checked" his 26-year-old girlfriend's phone after she refused to share her passcode, revealing her friends called him "controlling." The second submission is…
Portland, OR, August 11, 2026 —
The latest “Savage Love” advice column from the Portland Mercury delves into two distinct reader concerns regarding relationship dynamics and trust.
The first reader submission comes from a 47-year-old divorced father who expressed distress over his 26-year-old girlfriend’s refusal to share her phone’s passcode. The reader stated that after his girlfriend would not provide the passcode, he subsequently “checked” her phone. This action revealed that her friends had referred to him as “controlling.” The details of how the reader accessed the phone or the specific context of the friends’ comments were not provided.
The second submission features a gay man, in his early thirties, who is experiencing anxiety about his husband’s close friendship with another, younger gay man. This friend is identified as a “furry.” The reader’s concern centers on the possibility of an emotional affair, despite assurances from his husband that the friendship is platonic. The specific nature of the friendship and the husband’s assurances were not detailed.
The “Savage Love” column, known for addressing a wide range of modern relationship issues, provides advice from advice columnist Dan Savage. The column typically offers candid perspectives on dating, sex, and relationship challenges submitted by readers.
Further details regarding the specific advice given for each submission, or any follow-up information from the readers, were not included in the summary.
Story summarized from the original created by Dan Savage on www.portlandmercury.com, see more information here.
