Polyamory in the News
. . . by Alan M.



March 3, 2008

"Love: a four-letter, four-partner word"

The Press (Christchurch, New Zealand)

Regulars on poly discussion sites know some longtime voices from New Zealand. Here, a local newspaper profiles a few.


By GILES BROWN – The Press | 3 March 2008

Polyamory is a word that means many loves.

Put simply, it is about couples who enjoy intimacy with a third or more partners, including sex.


(Only about couples? Urk.)


And it is thriving in Christchurch.

But those who take part say there is only one problem — jealousy.


(Only one problem?!! Eyeroll.)


...Sue, 42, and her male partner are part of Christchurch's polyamorist community — a group larger than most would think.... Sue and her 48-year-old partner set up an internet chat forum for other Christchurch and New Zealand polyamorists in August last year, which has since grown to over 100 members.

Sue and her partner have five children under 12 and run a business in the city. The difference between them and other families is that they have a long-term relationship with another couple.

"There isn't a sexual focus," Sue said. "This is about an extended family."...


Read the article (which seems to be cut off partway through).

Never mind the reporter's errors. The important thing is that articles like this put the concept out there. A few readers will have a shock of recognition and will start googling the word, and it may change their lives forever. For the rest, such articles shows polys being good, careful, ethical people rather than the scummy creeps that many assume we must be. Articles like this are gradually making it easier to be out.

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3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great to see our article from New Zealand has made it onto your page. I was one of the people interviewed and although I wouldn't say we were over the moon about the finished article we were pleased it was relatively positive. A little frustrated at sentences beign a little twisted from what we said like the ones you have pointed out about couples and jealousy and we are wondering where the rest of the article went! It did however make the front page.

Both couples agreed to do the article in an aim to increase awareness and acceptance of polyamory at a local level following the publishing last week in the same paper of an article via the Washington Post.

New Zealand has a small but growing polyamory community. The setting up of www.nzpoly.org.nz last year has helped to draw together some of the poly people throughout the country. NZPoly is designed to be an information and resource hub as well as a community forum & chat and now has a dating section as well.

Smallsteps in the right direction!

March 03, 2008 4:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You might want to change that tag to "Australiasia" if you're going to use it to cover both Australia and NZ; there are some who object to the latter being categorized as part of the former... :)

March 04, 2008 8:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

*giggles* Sorry, this is lame but Chirstchurch is where the orginal family of Friday in Heinlien's book was set.

Just an odd coincidence.

March 04, 2008 9:28 PM  

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