Faithful in our fashion: In nature, as mirrored in gay male life, monogamy does not necessarily imply fidelity

Faithful in our fashion: In nature, as mirrored in gay male life, monogamy does not necessarily imply fidelity.

DICTIONARIES DEFINE MONOGAMY AS "THE CUSTOM OF BEING married to only one person at a time." After a time, when two people no longer wish to be together, it's natural for them to move on to other partners. Of course, no one enters into a relationship with thoughts of moving on.

Gay men jokingly refer to serial monogamy as "love `em and leave 'em" or, when carried to excess, "jump 'em, hump `em, and dump `em." Often gay men remain best friends with past lovers, who become extended members of gay families. Lesbians practice serial monogamy too, perhaps with more grief associated with the breakup and moving on.

Straight couples, under the marital bonds imposed by religion, are supposed to shun serial monogamy, which for them is divorce and remarriage. But with heterosexuals divorcing and remarrying at a greater rate than ever, many...