I joke in my one-man theatrical concert (Songs, Observations and Confessions on YouTube) that our extended community’s acronym is becoming so convoluted that, sooner or later we’ll have to include the entire alphabet. But even that might not be adequate because the pans and polys will be fighting over the “p.”

And, that’s why I prefer to use the umbrella labels, queer and trans, or sexually diverse. It’s nearly impossible to keep up with the latest iteration of what has become an alphabet soup. That being said, I don’t think what is essentially a lifestyle choice should stand alongside labels that stand for a person’s essential, innate queer or trans identity.

Nobody HAS to or NEEDS to be polyamorous. Anyone can be in polyamorous relationship, straight or queer. Sexual orientation or gender identity have nothing to do with polyamory any more than choosing monogamy does. Just because folks choose non normative relationships doesn’t automatically qualify them as queer. That’s how I see it anyway.