"I know that when Terry and I were together, 10 years ago, he did not appreciate it when people would ask him what it is like being partnered with a celebrity. Precisely because it suggested that he had no value"

This quote by Armistead Maupin speaks to the concept that individuals can be reduced to their relationships with others, especially when those relationships are with someone famous. Terry, Maupin's partner, was most likely annoyed by the truth that people were more interested in his connection to a star than in who he was as a person. This quote suggests that Terry seemed like he had no value beyond his relationship with the star, and that his own identity was being neglected. This is a tip that everyone has value and should be appreciated for who they are, not simply for who they are connected to. It is necessary to recognize the specific worth of each person, regardless of their relationships.