Polyamory is the practice or desire for consensual romantic relationships with multiple partners, where all involved are aware and consent. It challenges the traditional view of monogamy as the only path to deep and lasting love. Some polyamorous individuals embrace open relationships with managed jealousy, while others prefer closed groups known as polyfidelity, limiting sexual activity within the group.
Since its inception in 1966, LaVeyan Satanism has consistently embraced sexual plurality and emphasized consent, accepting polyamorous individuals and relationships as part of its broader philosophy of personal freedom and indulgence within ethical boundaries.
The DC Comics character Starfire, known for her openness to polyamorous relationships, debuted in October 1980.
A 1983 study revealed that a significant percentage of married couples reported having an understanding that allowed for nonmonogamy under certain circumstances.
The anime series Ranma ½ introduced Tatewaki in 1989, a character who expresses a desire for a polyamorous relationship.
The term "poly-amorous" was first coined by Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart in her article "A Bouquet of Lovers", published in May 1990 in Green Egg Magazine.
Jennifer L. Wesp created the Usenet newsgroup alt.polyamory in May 1992, marking the first verified use of the word "polyamory" according to the Oxford English Dictionary.
A 1992 Finnish government study on sexual attitudes and behaviors revealed that a small but notable percentage of respondents expressed openness to multiple sexual relationships or considered it their ideal relationship type.
In 1993, the archives of the Oneida Community, a 19th-century Christian religious commune known for its practice of "complex marriage," were made accessible to scholars, providing insights into their unique approach to relationships and sexuality.
In 1998, April Divilbiss, who was openly polyamorous, lost custody of her child to the child's grandparents. This case brought the challenges faced by polyamorous individuals in custody battles to light.
In March 1999, Geri Weitzman presented a paper at the 8th Annual Diversity Conference in Albany, New York, highlighting the need for psychology professionals to understand polyamory, despite its relative rarity openly.
In 1999, Morin conducted research that suggested specific conditions, different from the general population, contribute to positive experiences within polyamorous relationships.
Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart provided the definition of "polyamory" for the Oxford English Dictionary in 1999, defining it as "the practice, state or ability of having more than one sexual loving relationship at the same time, with the full knowledge and consent of all partners involved."
In a significant moment for polyamory within Jewish communities, Rabbi Jacob Levin publicly came out as polyamorous to his synagogue's board in California in 2000, retaining his position as rabbi.
The year 2001 saw the establishment of Unitarian Universalists for Polyamory Awareness (UUPA), an organization dedicated to promoting understanding and acceptance of polyamory within the Unitarian Universalist Association.
Unitarian Universalists for Polyamory Awareness (UUPA) was founded in 2001 to provide support, education, and promote spiritual wholeness regarding polyamory within and outside the Unitarian Universalist Association.
The Futurama episode "A Taste of Freedom", aired in 2002, features Old Man Waterfall, a character with multiple spouses, and portrays the legalization of polygamy.
Joy Davidson published "Working with polyamorous clients in the clinical setting" in 2002, addressing the need for therapists to understand and work with polyamorous individuals and relationships.
In 2002, the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom added the rights of polyamorous people to their mission statement.
The terms "polyamory", "polyamorous", and "polyamorist" were officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2006.
Daniel Help Justice's novel "Dreyd", published in 2007, features Tarsa, a character in a polyamorous triad.
In 2008, the Futurama film "The Beast with a Billion Backs" introduced Colleen O'Hallahan and Yivo, two characters engaged in polyamorous relationships.
In July 2009, the Kinsey Institute estimated that there were around 500,000 "openly polyamorous families" in the United States.
In September 2009, the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom published "What Psychotherapists Should Know About Polyamory", a manual for therapists working with polyamorous clients.
In 2009, Graham Nicholls launched www.polyamory.org.uk, and Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli's novel "Love You Two" featured a polyamorous character, increasing polyamory's visibility.
The Canadian Polyamory Advocacy Association (CPAA) was established in 2009 to advocate for the legal and social acceptance of polyamory in Canada.
The television show "Caprica", airing in 2010, portrayed several main characters in a polyfidelitous marriage, highlighting an alternative relationship model.
Legal scholar Ann Tweedy proposed in 2010 that polyamory could be considered a sexual orientation under existing US law.
The television series "Lost Girl", which premiered in 2010, features Bo Dennis, a character involved in romantic relationships with multiple individuals.
On November 23, 2011, the Supreme Court of British Columbia ruled that Canada's anti-polygamy law does not apply to informal polyamorous relationships, leading to the celebration of Polyamory Day every year on November 23rd.
Rabbi David Teutsch, in his 2011 book "A Guide to Jewish Practice: Volume 1 – Everyday Living," explored the possibility of ethical non-monogamy, suggesting that polygamy could be morally comparable to monogamy if practiced responsibly and ethically.
The TV series "American Horror Story: Hotel", which premiered in 2011, featured a storyline involving a polyamorous relationship between three characters.
In 2012, legal scholar Deborah Anapol advocated for changes to U.S. bigamy laws to allow for multiple marriages with legal notification to existing partners, proposing a "dyadic networks" model.
The reality TV series "Polyamory: Married & Dating" aired from 2012 to 2013, offering a glimpse into the lives of polyamorous families.
In August 2013, The Guardian reported that approximately 15-28% of heterosexual couples and about 50% of gay and bisexual individuals were in "non-traditional" relationships, indicating a growing acceptance of diverse relationship models.
The webcomic "Kimchi Cuddles", started in 2013, presented polyamorous characters in a relatable way, contributing to the normalization of polyamory.
In 2013, the Polyamory Action Lobby (PAL) was established in Australia to challenge misconceptions and advocate for the legal rights of polyamorous individuals.
In 2013, Sharon Kleinbaum, a senior rabbi at a New York synagogue, expressed the view that polyamory is a personal choice that does not inherently conflict with living a Jewishly observant and socially conscious life.
Fleckenstein, in 2014, observed that factors like extensive promotion of polyamory could attract individuals to whom it might not be suitable and highlighted the potential for unequal power dynamics to negatively impact polyamorous relationships.
In 2014, researchers Amy C. Moors, Terri D. Conley, Robin S. Edelstein, and William J. Chopik published a study highlighting the limitations of existing research on polyamory, particularly noting bias and methodological issues leading to potentially skewed positive results.
In 2014, the Unitarian Universalist Association's General Assembly made a significant step towards inclusion by ratifying amendments to its non-discrimination rule, explicitly including "family and relationship structures," a move advocated for by UUPA members.
The Social History of the American Family: An Encyclopedia, published in 2014, stated that polyamorous relationships are legal in all 50 US states while polygamy is not, clarifying the legal distinction between the two.
Following Bennett's comments, PinkNews published an article on May 4, 2015, delving further into the topic of polyamorous marriage rights and legal recognition.
Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, sparked media controversy in May 2015 by expressing openness to discussing civil partnerships or marriages for three people.
Legal scholar Ronald C. Den Otter argued in 2015 in the Emory Law Journal that the U.S. Constitution supports marriage rights for polyamorous families under due process and equal protection.
The webcomics "Always Human" (started in 2015) and "Unknown Lands" (started in 2015) incorporated polyamorous characters into their storylines.
Christian Keese, in 2016, countered arguments classifying polyamory as a sexual orientation, suggesting that such a model might limit the movement's scope and potential for broader alliances.
Writer Rebecca Ruth Gould argued in 2016 that non-monogamous relationships, including polyamorous ones, should be granted legal recognition, highlighting the ongoing struggle for acceptance and legal rights.
On May 29, 2017, the animated series Steven Universe introduced a character named Fluorite, a fusion of six gems, as a representation of a polyamorous relationship.
In a landmark case in 2017, Colombia legally recognized its first polyamorous family through a "special patrimonial union," granting legal status to the relationship of three men, although not as a marriage.
In a landmark case in 2017, a family in California became the first in the state to have the names of three fathers listed on their child's birth certificate.
The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, an evangelical Christian organization, released the "Nashville Statement" in 2017, signed by numerous evangelical leaders, explicitly rejecting polyamory as incompatible with God's design for marriage.
The film "Professor Marston and the Wonder Women", released in 2017, depicted the real-life polyamorous relationship between William Moulton Marston, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, and Olive Byrne.
In 2017, the comic "Open Earth" premiered, depicting a future where polyamorous relationships are the norm, aiming to portray open relationships positively.
In June 2018, a court in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, legally recognized three unmarried adults in a polyamorous relationship as the legal parents of a child, marking a significant legal precedent in Canada.
In 2018, the Association of Humanistic Rabbis released a statement affirming the rights of adults to consensual sexual expression, including polyamorous relationships.
The year 2018 saw increased visibility of polyamory with Louis Theroux's documentary "Love Without Limits" exploring polyamorous relationships in Portland, Oregon. Additionally, the web series "195 Lewis", about a Black lesbian couple navigating polyamory, won a Gotham Award.
By 2019, research indicated that over 20% of the United States population had engaged in some form of consensual non-monogamy, which includes polyamory, at some point in their lives.
The BBC TV series "Trigonometry", premiering on March 15, 2020, portrayed the formation of a polyamorous relationship between an existing couple and a third person, described as a love story.
In June 2020, Somerville, Massachusetts became the first city in the US to legally recognize polyamorous domestic partnerships, allowing those in such relationships to access their partners' health insurance, particularly crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ordinance to amend Cambridge's domestic partnership laws, eventually passed in March 2021, was initially proposed in July 2020.
In September 2020, psychologist Jessica Fern, author of "Polysecure: Attachment, Trauma and Consensual Nonmonogamy," estimated that around 4% of Americans, approximately 16 million people, were practicing non-monogamous relationships.
A legal dispute within a polyamorous relationship reached the Vermont Supreme Court in November 2020, bringing the issue of legal recognition for polyamorous families into the spotlight.
A study published on March 23, 2021, by Amy C. Moors, Amanda N. Gesselman, and Justin R. Garcia found that 10.7% of their sample had engaged in polyamorous relationships and 16.8% expressed a desire to try or be in one. The study also revealed a correlation between educational background and involvement in polyamory.
Cambridge, Massachusetts, amended its laws in March 2021 to allow domestic partnerships to include more than two partners, a measure supported by the Polyamory Legal Advocacy Coalition and signaling growing legal acceptance.
Arlington, Massachusetts, approved domestic partnerships involving more than two people in April 2021, subject to review by the state Attorney General's office.
In April 2021, a British Columbia Supreme Court Justice declared a woman as the third legal parent in a polyamorous "triad," further advancing legal recognition for polyamorous families.
In July 2021, the Australian soap opera "Neighbours" introduced a polyamorous relationship between three main characters, aiming to reflect diverse relationships in society.
In January 2022, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey approved Arlington's Town Meeting motion allowing multi-partner domestic partnerships.
The Organization for Polyamory and Ethical Non-monogamy (OPEN) was founded in 2022 in the United States with a mission to normalize and empower non-monogamous individuals and communities.
Somerville, Massachusetts passed an ordinance in March 2023 prohibiting discrimination against polyamorous individuals in employment and policing, marking significant progress in legal protection.