A group of five gay men in a polyamorous relationship have opened up about their unconventional love story, describing themselves as 'lucky' to have found each other. Eric Wong, 33, Hamilton Du, 35, James Lee, 37, Jonathan Chien, 37, and Michael Li, 31, host a podcast called The Cule Kids, a playful blend of 'the cool kids' and 'polycule', which refers to a group of three or more people in an intimate non-monogamous relationship.
How It All Began
The relationship originated with James and Jonathan, who started dating in 2013 after meeting at college four years earlier. They married in October 2022. The pair later connected with Eric in 2018, Hamilton in 2021, and Michael in 2022, initially forming a friends-with-benefits arrangement and creating a group chat. By January 2023, Michael playfully renamed the chat 'The Polycule', and within a year, they formalised their arrangement as a five-person polycule.
Bonding and Transparency
The group has bonded through video games, cruises, travel to Asia, and music festivals. They maintain a 'cule log' for transparency regarding sexual encounters outside their relationship. Hamilton, known as Milty, said: 'I feel so lucky that we have all met each other and that we're all open to being in a relationship like this. It's such a wonderfully rare thing.'
James, or JJ, recalled first seeing Jonathan in summer 2009: 'I definitely thought he was cute.' For Jonathan, feelings developed more gradually, and they became a couple in January 2013. JJ noted they were always in an open relationship, but the idea of dating multiple people came much later.
Expanding the Circle
The couple met Eric in December 2018 through a mutual friend. After Eric's relationship with that friend ended, they stayed close. In December 2021, Milty was introduced to JJ and JC through shared acquaintances. Michael entered the picture in August 2022, noticing the others acting 'kind of cuddly' at a party. He said: 'I was thinking that it could be something interesting that I wanted to be a part of.'
By late 2022, a mutual friend joked they were a polycule. In January 2023, Michael renamed the group chat, and the joke became less of a joke as bonds deepened. During a cruise in January 2024, JC told Michael he loved him for the first time, and soon all five expressed love for each other. They formally committed to forming a polycule in February 2024.
Living Arrangements and Future Plans
Currently, JJ and JC share a home, while Michael, Eric, and Milty live separately, all within 30 minutes of each other. They aim to eventually live together. They meet as a quintet at least once a week, often enjoying group activities including 'group play sessions' about 70% of the time they hang out. Outside dates are logged in the Cule Log for transparency.
Michael said the polycule is 'all on board more or less' with having children, though living together takes priority. JC mentioned they would like to 'come out' to their families about their polycule, something only Milty has done so far. They share their lives through their podcast, The Cule Kids, launched in June 2025, which has received 'overwhelmingly positive reactions'.
Milty said they are 'very grateful' to have found each other, with Eric adding: 'What are the chances that this could happen? Having two people in a relationship is hard enough, but we have five people all lined up with each other.'
