“Due to the mono-normative nature of our society, I lacked the confidence to express my desires openly, and Kyle felt the same way,” she shared with the outlet. When they finally made the decision to explore their options, they fully committed by downloading the Feeld app, which caters to those seeking diverse dating experiences, and engaged with relevant podcasts. As they began to date others, Rachel, who identifies as bisexual, noted that Kyle also publicly embraced his bisexuality. She remarked, “Witnessing Kyle’s growth brought me immense joy, and I felt increasingly authentic myself. It was simply delightful.” Their plans were interrupted by the pandemic, but they managed to continue their online dating journey, which eventually connected them with married couple Yair Lenchner and Ashley Giddens.
The four individuals quickly formed a strong bond, and as lockdown restrictions began to lift, they enjoyed socially-distanced outings before eventually merging their social circles. They took turns hosting date nights at each other’s homes, and although Kyle and Yair maintained a platonic relationship, their connection deepened with each meeting, which Rachel described as a ‘whirlwind’ experience. Approximately 18 months after their initial meeting, the group made the decision to cohabit, living together as a family unit. They even adopted a puppy and established a chore schedule. However, despite their stable polycule, they recognized that their marriages were not serving their best interests; for example, Rachel and Kyle were contributing to Yair and Ashley’s mortgage without gaining any equity. Consequently, they reached out to attorney Diana Adams, the executive director of the Chosen Family Law Center, who has been instrumental in advancing multiple-partner domestic partnership legislation. While New York has not yet adopted similar laws, the two couples opted for divorce as a step toward achieving formal recognition as a polycule.
This allowed for each individual to be included separately in a cohabitation agreement. Adams noted, “In domestic partnerships, financial matters are not intertwined as they are in marriage. In some respects, I believe this is beneficial.” Unfortunately, Kyle has since departed from the group, although they characterized it as a mutual choice, with Rachel sharing on Instagram that he ‘wants to focus on personal growth and discover his identity.’ “Is this a permanent situation? I can’t say for sure. Perhaps,” she remarked. “However, for the time being and the near future, Kyle will reside in Brooklyn while Yair, Ash, and I will continue living in our home.”
