VA House Candidate Reveals She's A Swinger Ahead Of November Election

VIRGINIA — A candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates revealed this week that she and her husband are in an "ethically non-monogamous" relationship, according to a statement shared on social media.

In a lengthy letter to voters, Yvonne Rorrer, a candidate for Virginia’s House of Delegates in the 47th district, said she and her husband of 22 years consensually date other couples together.

In revealing the news, Rorrer said she wanted to tell her story before anyone else did. Her disclosure has since received international news coverage.

"In politics, people love to dig up the unexpected and spin it into a spectacle," Rorrer said. "If you dare to step outside the box, they’ll try to use it to discredit you, distract from the real issues or divide the public."

She continued, "I'm different. I don’t do shame, and I sure won’t let anyone else tell my story."

Ethical non-monogamy, or ENM, is a term used to describe a relationship structure where all involved parties consent to have multiple romantic or sexual relationships. Unlike infidelity, all actions are taken with honesty and open communication with respect for everyone’s boundaries and feelings.

Rorrer said she decided to share her lifestyle with voters because she believes in "radical honesty."

"Yes, we may live differently than you. That's the point," she said. "Love doesn't look the same for everyone. It's a beautiful part of being human."

In an interview with HuffPost, Rorrer said that while no one was threatening to out her, she believed word of her lifestyle would have gotten out of her inner circle in Stuart, her hometown in southern Virginia with a population of just over 1,000 people.

"This is not something that we have hidden from our adult children, our closest friends, the majority of our family members,” she told HuffPost. “This has been our way of life for several years, and so it would have come out. And if it was going to come out, I would rather it be for me and in my own words.”

The announcement drew both criticism and praise from followers.

"TMI," one person wrote.

Another said that while they didn't agree with Rorrer's choice, "At least you’re honest about it. Which is more than I can say about many in Richmond."

The revelation even made it to late-night television.

In addition to running for office, Rorrer works as a court-appointed special advocate for abused and neglected children, according to her campaign website. She is also a photographer and founder of a nonprofit in North Carolina that assists the homeless.