Radical Relating: A Guide to Queer & Polyamorous Love

This is a Free In-Person Event at Banyen Books in Vancouver.

Join Mel Cassidy and Lo Laurin for an in-person discussion at Banyen Books of Radical Relating: A Queer and Polyamory-Informed Guide to Love Beyond the Myth of Monogamy, a trauma-informed guide to building liberated relationships rooted in empowerment, equity, and authenticity.

In Radical Relating, Cassidy challenges mainstream myths of monogamy and offers practical somatic exercises, reflection prompts, and a relational toolkit to help readers reimagine love beyond traditional boundaries. The book explores how monogamous structures intersect with colonialism, patriarchy, and capitalism, guiding both polyamorists and monogamists to develop relationships based on feminism, queerness, and community building. With trauma-informed pillars like Orientation, Resilience, Resolution, and Engagement, Radical Relating equips readers to dismantle internalized mono-normativity and cultivate authentic, courageous, and healthy connections.

Mel Cassidy is a somatic relationship coach committed to liberatory love and rewilding intimacy, specializing in working with queer and questioning individuals navigating consensual non-monogamy. They empower social misfits and cultural rebels to build joyful, embodied, and authentic relationships through trauma-informed practices focused on self-partnership, solo polyamory, and relationship anarchy.

Loretta Laurin (they/she), who goes by Lo, is a couples therapist and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC). Lo specializes in relationships, trauma, and personal growth. With an approach grounded in somatics (body-based), social justice, and attachment theory, they are also certified in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Relational Life Therapy (RLT) for couples. In addition, Lo is a movement teacher (yoga, pilates, dance, fitness) with over 15 years of experience. They are the previous Communications & Program Manager for Hollyhock retreat centre, and the co-founder of Shift Delivery Co-operative.

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