Relationship Bill of Rights
The Relationship Bill of Rights is an original work tat was originally published in the book More Than Two: A Practical Guide to Ethical Polyamory (Thorntree Press 2014). It was not derived from, or an expansion of, any other previous work. It was released into the public domain on January 12, 2023. It is also available as a poster from Thornapple Press.
The Relationship Bill of Rights from More Than Two
by Eve Rickert et al.
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 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 for yourself whether you want a relationship that is monogamous or not, and to seek partners who want the same things you do
- to have agreements respected, and to have the option of renegotiating agreements that are no longer working
- to grow and change
- to make mistakes
- to end a relationship
In non-monogamous 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 may affect you
- to have time alone with each of your partners
- to enjoy passion and special moments with each of your partners
In a family or intimate network:
- to choose the level of involvement and intimacy you want with other members of the family or network
- to be treated with courtesy
- to seek compromise
- to have relationships with people, not with relationships
- to be treated as a peer of every other person, not as a subordinate
To the extent possible under law, Eve Rickert has waived all copyright and related or neighbouring rights to the Relationship Bill of Rights. This work is published from Canada.
Brighter Than Sunflowers 