> what words should be used instead - 'marriages' would seem incorrect, not limiting it to heterosexual relationships would seem confusing.
Marriages probably the choice in other parts of the country, maybe "romantic relationships". Specify "heterosexual" is only left-wing thing, most others realize that gays are only small part and so do not bother to make mention. Saying "emotional labor often falls to the woman" would be most elegant though because it make implicit the normal man-woman scenario and avoid extra words.
> Must everything be politicized
Not in necessity but it does show significant bias on NYT. Also this is not all so much political as cultural.
> liberalism seeks change and improvement, while conservatism seeks to keep things as they are or were
You make a conflation between change and improvement, liberalism seeks the former and sometimes gets the latter. Some liberalism good and represent progress, some pointless and only change for change's sake. Example being push to use "nice words" for things every so many years. Idiot become retard become mentally handicapped become learning disabled... point here is that not every change is good change.