Athens Polyamory

Hi all! Any poly queer-identifying UGA students interested in being on a poly panel discussion on Feb. 15?

Laurel Hiatt from the UGA Lambda Alliance got in touch with me and said that they're hosting a polyamory panel next Wed., Feb. 15th, from 5pm-6:30. Some of the panelists cancelled, and they're looking for polyamorous queer-identifying UGA students to speak.

If you're interested, let her know at (404) 580-8808 or [email protected]

Interesting! That's a higher percentage than I'd have expected...

> The study found that about one in five single Americans had engaged in some sort of non-monogamous relationship arrangement in their lifetime. The findings were based on two nationally representative samples of adults in the United States of America, which included a combined 8,718 people.

> “While most people presume s*xual commitment to one partner (s*xual monogamy), some people have consensual agreements with their partners to engage in s*x and/or romance with other partners,”
the study, led by Mara Haupert of Indiana University, said.

> The study specifically examined the prevalence of consensual non-monogamy, which the researchers defined as “any relationship in which all partners agree that each may have romantic and/or s*xual relationships with other partners.” Consensual non-monogamy includes polyamory, swinging and open relationships.

Polyamory, swinging and open relationships are fairly common, study finds | PsyPost New research published in the Journal of S*x & Marital Therapy suggests that polyamory, swinging and open relationships are more common in the United States than thought. The study found that about one in five single Americans had engaged in some sort of non-monogamous relationship arrangement in th...

What do you all think of this concept?

https://reddit.com/r/polyamory/comments/4f5zls/introducing_a_new_term_to_the_poly_lexicon_comet/

Introducing a new term to the poly lexicon: Comet Introducing a new term to the poly lexicon: Comet | r/polyamory at reddit.com

Wonderful ideas for re-framing dating and opening up to intimacy! What do you think?

Deep Dating: The New Rules For Creating Intimacy - Interchange Counseling Institute You think you know why you date, but you’re wrong. You think you’re on the hunt for a suitable partner. You’ve been programmed to believe the person in front of you is a kind of checklist. Snappy dating profile – check! About as attractive as you are – check! Gets along with your friends – …

I talked with a UGA family sociology class today about polyamory! Here's my presentation:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XdkTRffIAlkkwFA4ExItIeL36n9yONwllJxskRUyS24/edit?usp=sharing

Polyamory notes Polyamory

Our meetup this afternoon is focusing on polyamory and healthcare, and I've put together a list of poly-friendly mental health professionals in the Athens and Atlanta areas. Please let me know if you would like to suggest anyone else for this list!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mpOZ1beLldEWafrDi3P6Jt7g7hmn6voEXsKg-zFtfWQ/edit?usp=sharing

Poly-friendly Mental Health Resources If you’re already seeing a therapist: Consider sending them these resources for learning more about polyamory, if they’re not already familiar with it: Open Love: Four Great Resources for Therapists on Polyamory Athens area: Aline Robolin, LPC Poly-friendly, although not mentioned as a focus on ...

Great seeing everyone at the meetup on Saturday!
Join us on Feb. 6 for our next meetup, about "Polyamory and Healthcare" -- we'll be discussing the best ways to find informed and understanding providers for physical and mental health needs.

Our February meetup will be on Sat. Feb. 6 at 4pm, upstairs at The Globe (199 North Lumpkin Street, Athens, GA). Hope to see you there, and please let us know if you know a local poly-friendly healthcare provider who would like to speak or attend!

Opening Up maintains a useful and relevant directory, with several listings for Georgia and many professionals who consult remotely:

"The Open List is a list of professionals (therapists, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, consultants, relationship and life coaches, doctors, lawyers, etc.) who are experienced and knowledgeable about alternative s*xuality and lifestyles, open relationships, polyamory, nonmonogamy, swinging, etc."

(Do keep in mind that the ads are not safe for work!)

http://openingup.net/open-list/

Open List – OpeningUp.net Open List The Open List is a list of professionals (therapists, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, consultants, relationship and life coaches, doctors, lawyers, etc.) who are experienced and knowledgeable about alternative s*xuality and lifestyles, open relationships, polyamory, nonmono…

OkCupid is adding more features for open relationships... but apparently only supports linking your profile to one other partner!

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/01/ok-cupid-is-opening-up-to-polyamorous-relationships/423162/

OkCupid Is Opening Up to Polyamorous Relationships The new option will allow couples to link their profiles and search for additional mates

Living a poly lifestyle is necessarily a commitment to self-work and personal development. We take responsibility for our feelings, while showing compassion for multiple significant others and metamours. It isn't easy, and we don't always get it right. The Enneagram (pronounced Any-uh-gram) is a self-work tool that can help us discover and work through our deepest fears and desires, becoming the best people and partners we can be.

The Saturday, January 9th meetup of Athens Poly is a great time to bring one or more of your partners, metamours, or even a friend who knows you really well.

During the meet-up we'll distribute Enneagram tests to help you figure out which of the nine personality types best describes you, but feel free to take tests online and/or read up on the personality types ahead of time. Here's an example of a free test, but any will do as a starting point: https://www.eclecticenergies.com/enneagram/test.php

Eclectic Energies Enneagram Tests (free) A choice of two online enneagram tests (free), to learn your personality type. A longer, and a quicker enneagram test (with wing and instinctual variant).

Hi all!
Based on our discussion at the most recent meetup, we've decided to start posting our events on Facebook and the Flagpole calendar, in addition to Meetup (http://www.meetup.com/Athens-Polyamory/).

We're all about outreach, education, and building community, and we want to make sure that interested people can find out about us, in order to keep this group vibrant with new ideas and sustainable in terms of leadership capacity.

Moving forward, our regular meetings will be in the upstairs room at The Globe (199 N Lumpkin St, Athens, GA 30601). It's an excellent location -- comfy, private, and quiet!

January's meetup will be on the second Saturday, Jan. 9, to avoid interfering with New Year's celebrations. After that, we'll go back to meeting as usual on the first Saturday of every month.

The next upcoming meetups and topics:

- Sat. Jan. 9, 4pm: Poly and personality types
- Sat. Feb. 6, 4pm: Poly and healthcare
- Sat. March 5, 4pm: Topic TBA (Let us know if you have suggestions for topics or speakers!)

Thanks to everyone who came out for the meetup yesterday! I enjoyed the discussion about relationship transitions and it was great to meet a new person, even if just briefly.

Here's the article I mentioned, by Elisabeth Sheff:

http://elisabethsheff.com/2012/12/20/failure-or-transition-redefining-the-end-of-polyamorous-relationships/

-- Sarah

Failure or Transition? Redefining the "End" of Polyamorous Relationships This is a chapter forthcoming in Selves, Symbols and S*xualities: Contemporary Readings, edited by Staci Newmahr and Thomas Weinberg. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Relationships in the United S...