I’m a cisgender gay male who has had open relationship experiences. I am grateful to be a member of the LGBTQ+ communities that are more open to unconventional relationship orientations. Perceptions about extra-dyadic or consensual nonmonogamous (CNM) relationships are not always positive. I want to help destigmatize and shed more light on CNM relationships. More specifically, long-term CNM relationships of the U.S. middle-aged gay men.

I am also interested in studying the experiences of those in middle adulthood because they tend to be overlooked by researchers. Evidence supports the notion that compared to heterosexual couples, gay men are more open to practicing non-monogamy and CNM. Although some qualitative research has explored the benefits of CNM and examined the reasons why gay men make particular relationship agreements, there is a lack of research considering the ways in which profound meaning-making may be linked to aging and gay male individual in CNM partnerships.

For most of the qualitative studies focusing on gay men and CNM relationships, they tend to focus on the experiences of the wider age range and/or targeting younger groups. There is less research interest and attention on older and/or middle-aged gay men in the U.S. The data collected from this study would provide insights, themes, and meanings about the lives of middle-aged adult gay men in partnered relationships for roughly one year or otherwise longer-term CNM relationships. Middle-aged gay men (those in 40s and 50s) in open relationships for at least one year are encouraged to participate! 

I can be reached at cnmqualitativeresearch@gmail.com or you can fill out the Qualtrics screener below for a response. Thank you in advance!!