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Resumo

This paper argues that, in the case of gay male couples, the issue of sexual exclusivity should be examined in terms of expectation and behaviour. Using this approach, a typology of three categories of gay male Christian couples is presented. Couples who were expectationally and behaviourally exclusive considered sexual exclusivity a symbol of total commitment, complete mutual satisfaction and adherence to the conventional Christian ethic of sexual monogamy. Couples who were expectationally exclusive but behaviourally non-exclusive developed various regulatory mechanisms to manage the disjunction between expectation and behaviour. The majority of couples were expectationally and behaviourally non-exclusive. They justified this lifestyle on the ground of sexual variety, prevention of possessiveness and the promotion of freedom and egalitarianism. They embraced the theology of friendship which emphasises inclusiveness rather than monogamy. Couples in all the three categories did not demonstrate significant differences in terms of their level of relationship satisfaction and commitment.

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