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Ethical Guidelines

To try and establish a non-threatening and pleasant environment at all of our gatherings, the Ohio Valley Polyamory Network affirms the following principles of behavior. Everyone attending an OVPN gathering will make a committed effort to honor these Ethical Guidelines and our OVPN Commitments as a condition for being a part and participating in groups created through OVPN.

Honesty
Everyone shall be truthful in their interactions with others at OVPN events.

Respect
In interactions with others at OVPN events, everyone shall create a trusting environment by honoring promises, agreements and respecting privacy, and shall refrain from violence, coercion, or abusive behavior.

Equality
Everyone shall honor the dignity of every other person at an OVPN function by treating them as equal with oneself, regardless of their ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, lifestyle, age, physical appearance and/or medical condition.

OVPN Commitments

These rules expand on our Ethical Guidelines in more detail.

Respect
Please respect our vision/intent. This is not a swinging, casual sex group or a dating service. It is a group oriented towards multiple, sustained, intimate, committed but, non-possessive relationships. It is expected that respect be shown towards singles, couples, triads, whatever...... as well as all genders, sexual orientations, races and  spiritual paths.

Confidentiality
Remember, not everyone is out of the closet. Anything that is discussed at one of our events should be considered confidential unless everyone present agrees that it is okay to discuss it outside the circle. This also relates to the sharing of e-mail addresses, people's photos, last names, phone numbers or street addresses etc. without explicit permission of the parties involved.

This is not for secrecy. This is to protect those attending an OVPN event. Parents have lost custody of their children, teachers have lost jobs...etc. because of intolerant people finding out about an individual living a polyamorous lifestyle. When in doubt....ask first, before you share outside the group!

Consensuality
If you are attracted to someone at one of our events, you can flirt with them - just make sure that they want you to. No means NO, but more than that, not everyone is comfortable saying no. Try to be aware of what the other person is feeling, check in and make sure that they really are interested. We are trying to create a safe environment where consensuality and respect for each other's boundaries is always expected and practiced.

Truthfulness
Be truthful. This means you should not withhold relevant information from others at OVPN events about your own marital or other-relationship status. When relevant, you should relate the nature of any agreement that you have with primary partners and in any other relationships. When pertinent, you should relate the extent to which you practice safe sex with other partners, and not hide or give misleading information regarding any infections or other sexually related health condition you may have. If you have a partner, it is customary to tell them that you are going to an OPVN meeting or better, bring them along.

Conflict Resolution
Individuals attending are strongly encouraged to attempt resolving any conflicts/ incidents that arise involving these guidelines and rules, first  between themselves. It is encouraged that this be done by communicating fully and at all times in mutually respectful language and manner.

Our goal is a safe environment for all. If we respect an individual's boundaries, honor that no means NO and refrain from shaming and blaming in our speech, we can create an atmosphere where conflict can be more easily dealt with.

If a conflict remains unresolved after discussion among the involved parties they are then encouraged to report problems to a designated volunteer at each event.

Ohio Valley Polyamory Network

Once you have freed yourself of the false idea that love is limited, once you have begun to give openly of your love, you will find that your capacity to give will grow continually greater. . . . But the giving of love is not like spending money, it is like investing it. The more you invest, the more you get back. Open Marriage by Nena O'Neill & George O'Neill

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Last revised: July 29, 2009.