It's been a very long time since I had an EX.  I've been married 22 years now.  Do you know much about those relationships.
I know the term can sometimes have a derogatroy meaning, bringing up unrequited feelings
Yes, I can see how that would happen.  I think many people may have issues due to past relationships.
Ex can mean a few different things besides an former romantic partner.  Such as ex friend or ex co-worker
Ah, I never thought about it that way.  I do have some ex-coworkers.  You really lose touch when you don't work together anymore.
Girlfriend
A girlfriend is a female friend or acquaintance, often a regular female companion with whom one is platonic, romantically or sexually involved. The analogous male term is "boyfriend".
Scope.
Partners in committed relationships are also sometimes described as a "significant other" or simply "partner", especially if the individuals are cohabiting.
"Girlfriend" and "partner" mean different things to different people; the distinctions between the terms are subjective. How the term is used will ultimately be determined by
a 2011 interview, White said that she always knew her close friend Liberace was gay and that she sometimes accompanied him to premieres. A supporter of gay rights, White said that "If a couple has been together all that time – and there are gay relationships that are more solid than some heterosexual ones – I think it's fine if they want to get married. I don't know how people can get so anti-something. Mind your own business, take care of your affairs, and don't worry about