It’s time to be Open about being Open! A global day of action to advance visibility, awareness and freedom for non-monogamous families and relationships of all varieties.
The Organization for Polyamory and Ethical Non-monogamy (OPEN) announces the inaugural Day of Visibility for Non-Monogamy on July 15, 2023 – a shared day of action to promote awareness and acceptance of consensual non-monogamy in all its varieties. With community events occurring in various cities around the world, the growing movement to normalize non-monogamy is working toward a future where romantic and intimate relationships between consenting adults are accepted and protected regardless of relationship structure, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
What is consensual non-monogamy? Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) – also referred to as ethical non-monogamy or simply non-monogamy – describes a range of relationship styles and structures that involve multiple romantic, intimate or sexual partners, with the full knowledge and consent of everyone involved. ENM is an umbrella term that encompasses practices including polyamory, open relationships, swinging (also known as the “lifestyle”), and more. In a recent survey, one-third of American adults describe their ideal relationship as something other than complete monogamy (2023), and one in five adults will participate in an ethically non-monogamous relationship at some point in their lives (2016). Non-monogamy is practiced by people from all walks of life; preference for non-monogamy is found not to vary significantly on the basis of race, region, religion, education, income, or affiliation.
The Day of Visibility for Non-Monogamy is being coordinated by OPEN (Organization for Polyamory and Ethical Non-monogamy), a nonprofit dedicated to advancing cultural acceptance and political rights for non-monogamous families and relationships.
“People from all walks of life practice non-monogamy,” said Brett Chamberlin, OPEN’s executive director. “Non-monogamous families and relationships deserve to be accepted and respected like any other. Through visibility and community action, we can push back against the longstanding stigma around non-monogamy.”
In recent years, acceptance of polyamory and other non-monogamous identities has been gaining ground in Canada. A registered society formed in 2009, the Canadian Polyamory Advocacy Association (CPAA) is at the forefront of advocating for the Polyamorous Community, beginning with a landmark court case where the BC Supreme Court clarified that Polyamorists can be in loving, egalitarian, conjugal relationships without criminal sanction. In 2021, the CPAA campaigned for inclusion of polyamory in the data collection for the Canadian Population Census, and was subsequently invited to participate in focus groups planning for future surveys by Statistics Canada. CPAA’s vision today is focused on social advocacy and education, centered on anti-racism, anti-ableism, and pro inclusion for gender, sexuality, and racial diversity within the Polyamorous communities in Canada.
For Non-Monogamy Visibility Day, the CPAA is launching the #PolyamorousStoryProject, inviting polyamorous people in Canada to share their stories of love and hope, showcasing the joys and hurdles of day to day life within Canada’s Polyamorous communities, with the world. To learn more, please visit polyadvocacy.ca and follow the CPAA @CanPolyAdvocacy on Facebook & Instagram.
Events celebrating the Day of Visibility for Non-Monogamy are happening in multiple cities internationally from London to Lisbon to Louisville to Los Angeles and beyond. To see a list of in-person community events, visit the Day of Visibility Event Calendar, powered by Bloom. In addition to OPEN, the Day of Visibility is also supported by a range of organizations and allies including: Asexual Visibility and Education Network, Bay Area Poly Happy Hour, Bloom Community, Bonobo Network, CANDID, Casa Galenia, Center for Positive Sexuality, Chosen Family Law Center, Evergreen Hearts, Front Porch Swingers Podcast, GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality, Hump Day Quickies Podcast, JOYClub, Misfits in Love, Multiamory Podcast, National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, Naughty Events, The Nonbinary Polihistor, Normalizing Non-monogamy Podcast, Oasis Aqualounge, #open: Polyamorous & ENM Dating, “Open: A Journey Through Love” Documentary, Open Relating, The Pineapple Express Podcast, Playing With Fire Podcast, PolyActive, Poly Alt Parenting, Poly Pop Culture, PolyPortual, The Polyamory Foundation, Queer Polyam Boston, Radical Relating, The Root: Babies, Birth, and Beyond, Ready for Polyamory Podcast, Relationship Diversity Podcast, Sheff Consulting, Stockton Area Polyamory, Soaring Hearts Center, Stacey McLarty, Attorney – Chosen Family Law TX, The Swing Nation Podcast, Swinger Society, and Woodhull Freedom Foundation.
