For those looking to explore this topic, a good place to start is the Wikipedia article about polyamory, though it’s a bit of a hefty read at 5000 words.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyamory
Some more concise and well-organized intro:
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-does-polyamorous-mean-21882
https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/a35805124/polyamorous/
---------------------------------
ENM has had huge growth and acceptance starting around 2012,
and this is reflected all over in TV, movies, media coverage, research and
dating. Here are some key articles and links:
Quote 1: “There is plenty of evidence that consensual
non-monogamy is an emerging civil rights movement,” said Heath Schechinger, a
counseling psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley, and co-chair
of the Consensual Non-Monogamy Task Force, recently created within the American Psychological Association.”
Quote 2: “Activists are already working with elected
officials in more than a dozen local governments, especially in California, to
expand local anti-discrimination ordinances to include a new protected class,
“relationship structure,” said Berkeley psychologist and poly activist Dave
Doleshal.”
Quote: “a survey of some 8,700 US single adults in 2017 found
that more than one in five engaged in consensual non-monogamy at some point in
their lives, while in a 2014 survey 4%-5% of Americans reported currently being
polyamorous.”
Quote: “The number of people who say they are solely
committed to monogamy, meanwhile, has fallen to a minority of all users, 44
percent, down from 56 percent in 2010.”
Quote: “There is a growing interest in consensual,
non-monogamous relationships – both in the general public and in terms of
research,”
https://www.facebook.com/redtabletalk/videos/419568041972431/
An episode of the Emmy-award winning talk-show “Red Table
Talk” featuring Jada Pinkett Smith (actress and wife of actor Will Smith) and
her daughter Willow Smith, discussing ENM
https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/real-life/polyamorous-relationships/
Willow Smith herself is polyamorous, as she discussed
eloquently and at length here: https://www.facebook.com/redtabletalk/videos/904644817023031/.
https://openpsychometrics.org/research/demographics-of-polyamory/
A 2015 survey on polyamory
https://quillette.com/2019/10/29/polyamory-is-growing-and-we-need-to-get-serious-about-it/
Quote: “More people than ever are pursuing polyamorous, open,
or swinging relationships. With the growing number of polyamorous
relationships, we need to get serious about analyzing the costs and benefits of
polyamory—not just for individuals, but for families, cultures, and nations.”
https://www.fatherly.com/love-money/how-common-open-relationship-non-monogamous-relationships/amp/
Quote: “A study from the Journal of Sex Research found that
Google searches for terms related to open relationships have been rising
steadily for a decade. In a follow-up study, the same group of researchers
discovered that more than one in five Americans have engaged in a
non-monogamous relationship at one point in their lifetime. So, it would seem
that at least 20 percent of the American public is open to an open
relationship.”
Quote: “A growing number of Canadian parents are polyamorous,
opting for consensual non-monogamous relationships. Having multiple partners
may seem weird, confusing or even scandalous to some. But experts, parents and
even kids say it offers some surprising benefits”
Quote: “marriage is decreasing in popularity, divorce is
becoming more common and having a lifelong relationship with one person is no
longer the norm (if ever it was).”
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160623-polyamorous-relationships-may-be-the-future-of-love
“Some are even calling for it to be recognised (SIC) by law
following the legalisation (SIC) of gay marriage in the UK and the US. All this
raises of the question of whether the future of love may be very different from
our current conceptions of romance.”
-------------------------------------
Even some religious organizations have come to terms that
polyamory is part of our society:
https://www.windycitytimes.com/m/APPredirect.php?AID=61355
Metropolitan Community Church Rev. Elder Rachelle Brown talks
Cajun roots, faith and lesbian polyamorous relationship.
Southern Baptist Preacher Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood affirms
polyamory in an interview
https://polyinthemedia.blogspot.com/2019/10/polyamory-next-sexual-frontier-in.html
Preston Sprinkle (biblical scholar and president of The
Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender) and Branson Parler (professor of
theological studies at Kuyper College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and director
of faith formation at Fourth Reformed Church in Grand Rapids)
https://www.timesofisrael.com/polyamorous-jews-share-love-seek-acceptance/
Some Jewish Rabbis too. “Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, senior rabbi
at New York’s gay synagogue, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, says she tries to
avoid that sort of judgment in her rabbinic practice. Polyamory, she says, is a
choice that does not preclude a Jewishly observant, socially conscious life.”
--------------------------------------------
In the PNW, home to myself and to your company’s HQ, ENM is
known to be even more prevalent:
https://polyinthemedia.blogspot.com/2019/09/polyamory-in-pacific-northwest.html
Quote: “Seattle has long been known as Poly Capital of the
World, but Portland now holds the title according to locals quoted in a
5,000-word article that just appeared in Cascadia magazine”
https://southseattleemerald.com/2020/07/30/navigating-consensual-non-monogamy-during-covid-19/
Quote 1: “Sheff says there are neighborhoods in Seattle where
more and more polyamorists groups moved to be close to each other, and several
polyamorists say they consider Washington state to be polyamory-friendly”
Quote 2: “approximately 69 million people in the U.S. are
currently in intimate relationships with multiple people at once.”
Quote: “In Portland, Oregon – one of America’s most sexually
tolerant cities – it seems you can’t throw a stone without finding a consensual
non-monogamous relationship”
------------------------------
Many cities, states and even countries are making moves that
have or might anchor ENM in law, in various shapes and forms:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/01/us/somerville-polyamorous-domestic-partnership.html
Somerville, MA
Cambridge, MA
https://patch.com/massachusetts/arlington/arlington-recognizes-polyamorous-domestic-partnerships
Arlingon, MA
California
https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/28/africa/south-africa-polyandry-outcry-scli-intl/index.html
South Africa
https://www.vice.com/en/article/vbgpka/gay-men-polyamorous-marriage-colombia
Columbia
Canada
https://www.facebook.com/Centerforwomensjustice/photos/a.1656237957721835/2990081344337483/
Israel
---------------------------
I mentioned Microsoft in my previous emails, as it has led
several initiatives in this realm. Back in 2018, they created an internal
employee resource group (“ERG”) named “ENUM”, which grew to become very large
and active:
https://ncsfreedom.org/2021/06/16/microsoft-pride-making-progress-together/
In March of this year, during Microsoft’s Include summit,
Microsoft’ CVP of Diversity, Lindsay-Rae McIntyre spoke of this, saying “we
have to be ready to have conversations about…inclusion of individuals who
practice ethical non-monogamy” (this is at 05:29-5:44 in the video)
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/videoplayer/embed/RWAaqB
Microsoft’s aggressive diversity goals and agenda has been
influenced by various business data points:
1.
76 percent of
employees and job seekers said a diverse workforce was important when
evaluating companies and job offers.
2.
72% of U.S.
Workers Would Leave for More "Inclusive" Employer.
---------------------------
Additional important resources:
1.
Polyamory in
the news, which has collected several thousand articles and broadcasts:
https://polyinthemedia.blogspot.com
2.
The Chosen
Law Family Center, which supports ENM individuals and cases on a sliding scale:
https://chosenfamilylawcenter.org
3.
The Harvard
Law School LGBTQ+ Advocacy clinic, which provides legal help and protection for
people in ENM relationships:
https://today.law.harvard.edu/polyamory-and-the-law/
https://polyamorylegal.org/our-team
4.
Loving More,
an ENM advocacy non-profit based in Colorado:
https://www.lovingmorenonprofit.org
A few more articles about the history and practice of ENM:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326869
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325880
https://www.scarleteen.com/article/relationships/a_first_polyamory_guide
https://www.scarleteen.com/relationship_structure_and_troubleshooting_navigating_poly_relationships
