Australian Court Says Polyamory Is Not "Sexual Orientation" Under Sex Discrimination Act

In Bunning v Centacare, (FCCA, Feb. 11, 2015), an Australian Federal Circuit Court judge dismissed a sexual orientation discrimination complaint filed against a Catholic social service agency by former employee Susan Bunning.  Bunning had worked most recently as the agency's Coordinator of Family Support, but was dismissed after it became known that she led a polyamorous lifestyle. She sued under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984.  The court held that plaintiff has no cause of action because polyamory-- the practice of engaging in multiple sexual relationships with the consent of all the people involved-- is sexual behavior, not sexual orientation. Financial Review reports on the decision.