This site is temporary. We're working on replacing it with a "real" Web site.
Who are we?
We're your polyamorous neighbors in Canada.
We're also a nonprofit society, incorporated in BC. Our Constitution defines our purpose. We exist mainly to defend legal polyamory.
Our society includes people from across Canada. Many of our volunteers are well known in Canadian polyamorous communities. All of them respect the values of that community. Polyamory is pretty loose-knit, but, insofar as it has leaders, many of us are among them.
What is Polyamory?
"Polyamory" is one of several words for multi-partner intimate relationships and the people in them. The community that identifies with this term has certain core values. We believe in gender equality, self-determination, free choice for all involved, mutual trust, and equal respect among partners.
When speaking technically, we use Wikipedia's definition of the word "polyamory". We believe it's the most discussed, the most carefully considered, and thus the most legitimate.
"Polyamory is the practice, desire, or acceptance of having more than one intimate relationship at a time with the knowledge and consent of everyone involved. "
Why are we here?
We're here because we have a right to live with the people we love, and the law doesn't seem to recognize that.
Section 293 of the Criminal Code of Canada purports to outlaw polyamorous people living together as families. It penalizes us as soon as we make a serious commitment to one another.
The BC Government has asked the BC Supreme Court to decide whether Section 293 is compatible with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This "reference" question arises from concern over alleged abuses, in the context of plural marriage, by religious polygynists in rural BC. In all probability, whichever side wins, this case will be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, and will set important precedents for the rights of everybody who has more than one intimate relationship.
We believe that Section 293 is completely incompatible with the Charter, and we are preparing to intervene in court to argue that.
We who choose the label "polyamory" represent our own cultural thread. Our attitudes, actions, and values are different, sometimes profoundly different, from those of the people who identify with the labels "polygamy" or "polygyny". However diverse self-identified "polyamorists" or "polygamists" may be, neither includes the other, even though the law itself makes no distinction. Polyamorists deserve our own voice in this debate, and the CPAA exists to provide that voice.
How can you help?
- Show your interest
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If you're a polyamorous person, or if you just support our goals, put your email address on our supporter list, and if possible please let us know what province or country you're from. Drop a message to support@polyadvocacy.ca. We'll use your address only for the following purposes:
- To let you know when our "real" Web site, our "real" blog(s), and our "real" mailing lists are set up, and to invite you to join them.
- Possibly to ask you to participate in surveys about our community, or to give us other information which will help in our work.
- Possibly to send you a very limited number of "calls to action" on critical issues. We don't expect to have to do this before the real lists are up, but you never know.
We may publish the total number of people on our supporter list, or information about its growth rate. We will not release any of the actual addresses, or any other information about people on the list, to anybody outside the CPAA's trusted working groups, unless legally forced to do so. The present interim supporter list will be destroyed once everybody has had enough chance to join the "real" lists. You may remove yourself from the list at any time.
- Give us evidence
If you're in a conjugal relationship with more than one person, we can use your perspective, either as a formal witness or as part of our background information. If you believe you have a special perspective on polyamory and the law, or special, relevant information, we may be able to use it. Please send email to witness@polyadvocacy.ca.
- Give time
Legal work is time consuming. Right now, we need the following:
- Pro-bono legal help, especially from BC bar members who can give us actual court time.
- Help from professional legal researchers and paralegals.
We're not yet organized to use too many lay volunteers, but we hope to have our working groups in order soon. When we do, we'll need help with:
- Clerical research support
- Technical support for our other volunteers
- Community relations: moderating forums, etc.
- Logistics: moving documents around, etc
If you can help with any of these, please send email to volunteer@polyadvocacy.ca.
Everyone is welcome to volunteer, but please understand that, because of confidentiality and other issues, there will be some roles which are only available to people we can verify as trustworthy members or "fellow travellers" of the polyamorous community.
- Give resources
Legal research is expensive. Right now, we need the following:
- Access to professional research databases
- Access to libraries
In the future, we may need:
- Travel (and lodging)
- Office, copying, and mailing services
- Send us money
Litigation costs money, even with volunteers. So do PR and lobbying. If you want to support us monetarily, send a Paypal payment to donate@polyadvocacy.ca, or send email for instruction on how to send a check.
What's our history?
CPAA started with ideas circulated by members and moderators of the Vanpoly group. The Vanpoly members circulated a "call for interveners", and were quickly joined by members and facilitators of the VanIsle-Poly group, and then by others. We now have active volunteers and potential witnesses in BC, Ontario, Québec, and Manitoba.
How can you contact us?
If you have any questions, please send email to info@polyadvocacy.ca. This address works for both press and public inquiries.
What else have we said?
See our press release archive.
Last modified: Thu Jan 28 16:24:01 EST 2010
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