Very interesting article, but maybe in too much of a hipster bubble? I don't know well any poly people who live in large cohesive long term "communes," or intentional communities, like the Chrysalis base in Brooklyn NY (a hipster area) on which the article depends for most of its information.
I did have 3 dates with a poly guy who lives in a nearby poly community here in Massachusetts, made up of about 30 homes. Each family has its own home, but they have a community building for communal meals. From what he told me, the houses have families of 1, 2 or 3 adults (some with minor children, some without). Not everyone lives with, or even near, all their lovers.
Oddly enough, even though he is living in a poly community, so you'd think he had his poly ethics all set, this guy didn't have clearance to look outside his V for a 3rd girlfriend: even though he thought it would be ok with her, it wasn't; and so despite his desire for dating me, one of his gfs soon vetoed me.
I have dated and met socially, poly people of color, black, Latino, Asian. My current bf is half Fijian. I don't seek out people of color, in a fetishistic way, I just don't care about skin color. I do find sometimes, cultural dating differences, especially with Asians. It seems some of these guys, despite IDing as poly, are looking for a mistress, a piece on the side, more of a play-partner than an actual poly partner. So it ends up feeling dates are more like booty calls than a real emotional respectful relationship. This one guy Ravi whom I am kinda sorta dating, doesn't keep in touch well at all in between dates. However, the Fijian is much more respectful. But then again, he's also half French Canadian... Canadians are so polite!
I met a guy on an airplane once, and we talked a lot. He was traveling to a tattoo convention with one of his gfs. He was Latino. His gf was sitting a couple rows back, and I offered to change seats, but he said he was fine sitting with and talking to me. I looked back at her and she smiled and waved.
He and this gf had a baby, who had stayed behind with his longer term gf, so they could have this trip unencumbered. He said he had 5 gfs and even more kids... I do think relationships can be more fluid in certain demographics than in the white world. Men get wanderlust and move on, there's a concept of baby daddies, and rejected gfs banding together and raising the same guy's kids together. With poly, the wandering guy doesn't have to be hated by his former gfs just for wanting variety, I guess. Also, he probably has to let go of the macho possessiveness and consent to his gfs seeing other lovers as well.
People of color are still considered "minorities" in this country, and our president isn't helping the population of people of color to grow. So any group for any interest, unless specifically for a certain "race" or ethnic group, or family group, is going to be majority white, at least for now.
That said, besides dating, I've met quite a few people of color who are poly.
I am also good friends with a transgender poly gay man. He is vegetarian, and at one point lived in a large house in the Boston area with about 5 adults, all vegetarian, all queer friendly, and 3 kids. The members were all poly. One of the women was black and she was the mom of the 3 black (or maybe biracial) kids. But like many communities, it takes just one bad apple to destroy the dynamic. One of the members was found to be pretty psycho, and they all decided to disband.
I also have met and/or dated lots of bi men. I think the idea that most poly men are straight more reflects on homophobia than fact. Back when I was more active on OK Cupid, guys would message me whose profile said they were straight, but they almost immediately would tell me they were actually bi, but didn't want to admit it publicly, because it reduced the interest of many straight women. But they told me they were bi because my profile said I was bi.
I remember one active straight poly female member we had here admitted to being turned off by bi men. Wouldn't date one. Grossed her out for some reason. So I think a lot of poly guys still feel they have to lie about their bi tendencies, to get dates with women. Perhaps it's different for younger men these days, in a less homophobic atmosphere. Poly is "cooler" than swinging. I know swinger parties still tend to be couple-centric, with supposedly straight men, bi women. But I know of one femmey guy who went to some swinger parties, who was followed to the men's room by supposedly straight swinger men, who propositioned him for sex, in private.
Also, I know gay men have a tradition of consenting to open relationships where either guy in a couple can seek sex outside the couple. Maybe these are usually one night stands of the anonymous booty call type, either using Grindr or going to a gay bar? But perhaps now that polyamory is becoming more mainstream, even gay men might become more poly, rather than just seeking hookups. I don't know. Understandably, gay men are going to seek male oriented social settings, and not come to a board like this often, with all the hetero type people we have here. So they are invisible to the poly community at large. That's my theory anyway.
Now, I admit I've never gone to poly group meetups. So, I'm just speaking from 10 years of poly experience, where I haven't been immersed in the poly community in self conscious meetups/munches, or group therapy type sessions, or poly speed dating, etc., etc. Just one person's opinion from their own personal viewpoint.
