Franklin Veaux
1774. |
The Relationship Bill of Rights
You have the right, without shame, blame or guilt:
In all intimate relationships: — to be free from coercion, violence and intimidation, — to choose the level of involvement and intimacy you want, — to revoke consent to any form of intimacy at any time, — to be told the truth, — to say no to requests, — to hold and express differing points of view, — to feel all your emotions, — to feel and communicate your emotions and needs, — to set boundaries concerning your privacy needs, — to set clear limits on the obligations you will make, — to seek balance between what you give to the relationship and what is given back to you, — to know that your partner will work with you to resolve problems that arise, — to choose whether you want a monogamous or polyamorous relationship, — to grow and change, — to make mistakes, — to end a relationship. In poly relationships: — to decide how many partners you want, — to choose your own partners, — to have an equal say with each of your partners in deciding the form your relationship with that partner will take, — to choose the level of time and investment you will offer to each partner, — to understand clearly any rules that will apply to your relationship before entering into it, — to discuss with your partners decisions that affect you, — to have time alone with each of your partners, — to enjoy passion and special moments with each of your partners. In a poly network: — to choose the level of involvement and intimacy you want with your partners’ other partners, — to be treated with courtesy, — to seek compromise, — to have relationships with people, not with relationships, — to have plans made with your partner be respected; for instance, not changed at the last minute for trivial reasons, — to be treated as a peer of every other person, not as a subordinate. |
1797. |
Two axioms of ethical polyamory
These two key axioms to support ethical decisions in relationships root in considerations of basic human rights:
— The people in the relationship are more important than the relationship. — Don’t treat people as things. |