Kevin, 38, who has been in recovery from drug addiction since age 19, had cancer a decade ago. The illness, which occurred less than a year into his relationship with Jade, 37, involved the removal of a testicle and chemotherapy, which he described as a traumatic period.
Since receiving the all-clear, Kevin's relationship with his sexuality has significantly shifted. He stated he has become more vulnerable and open, and now identifies as queer, a change from three years ago when he would have identified as straight.
Kevin and Jade, who have been together for 11 years, were monogamous for eight years before deciding to open up their relationship three years ago. Jade noted they were in a good place and wanted to share and accelerate that with other people. They began by going to sex-positive parties and playing together in group settings, and now date and have sex with other people solo, with both sleeping with men, women, and others.
Kevin reported that exploring polyamory has made him a more confident person, feeling better than ever before, despite having scarring from his operation. Jade described their exploration as mutual, noting that a challenge is their different paces, with Kevin forming strong, close relationships with people, which can create an imbalance.