Franki Jupiter's upbringing was steeped in the traditional values of his Presbyterian pastor father and Bible study teacher mother. The expectations were clear: follow Jesus, marry young, abstain from sex until marriage, and remain devoted to one's spouse for life. Yet, from an early age, Jupiter sensed a divergence from this prescribed path, setting the stage for a journey that would defy his parents' calls to embrace their Savior.
A Childhood of Contradiction
Despite being raised in a strict religious household, Jupiter knew from a young age that he was queer. He enjoyed dressing up in his mother and sister's clothes and experienced crushes on boys, feelings that were explicitly condemned by his parents and church community. "I was attracted to drag queens and trans people. I was told very explicitly by my parents and everyone in the church that was not OK," he revealed to the Philadelphia Inquirer. This early awareness created a tension between his innate identity and the conservative environment he was brought up in.
Breaking Free in College
At 18, Jupiter entered what he describes as his "feral era" after leaving for college. This period involved dropping out of school, joining a band, experimenting with psychedelics, and moving to Rome to pursue photography. "The parts of me that had been repressed for so long all came a bit too much to a head," he explained. It was during this time of exploration and self-discovery that he began to fully embrace his sexuality and question the monogamous, heteronormative ideals of his youth.
Navigating Relationships and Polyamory
Jupiter's first marriage, which he entered with great chemistry, ended after just a year. During the separation, he realised he was not a "one-woman man" and discovered polyamory through online forums like Reddit. "My whole life, I’ve loved people so much that the idea of not being in some relationship was crazy to me. But I knew that if I was going to be in relationships, they were going to be open," he stated. This revelation marked a pivotal shift in how he approached love and commitment.
A Pandemic Wedding and a New Partnership
In 2018, Jupiter met his second wife, and they married over Zoom in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, later celebrating with a lavish four-day Indian wedding. The marriage was partly pragmatic, as her Indian passport limited their mobility, and Jupiter saw it as beneficial for both. "I could see ways in which marrying her was extremely beneficial for both of us, but definitely for her, because she’d be able to move around much more freely," he noted. The proposal itself was unconventional, occurring while they were tripping on acid near the California-Oregon border.
Life as a Throuple in Manayunk
After moving to Philadelphia, Jupiter met a woman who is now his girlfriend, and the three formed a committed throuple. He was transparent from the start about his marriage, ensuring his wife remained a central part of his life. Now residing in Manayunk, Jupiter describes his wife and girlfriend as having polar opposite personalities, yet they coexist contentedly. "There is a finite amount of time, so I don’t foresee adding other long-term partners. But also, who knows?" he mused, reflecting on the fluid nature of their arrangement.
Embracing Identity and Music
Today, at 39, Jupiter is a queer, polyamorous rock musician, whose Instagram bio humorously describes him as "Rock-adjacent for theater kids. Heart-centered pop for queers." He attributes his lifestyle to a combination of loving people deeply and struggling with impulse control. "I love people, and I’m not great with impulse control," he quipped. His story underscores a journey from religious conformity to personal authenticity, challenging traditional norms around relationships, sexuality, and faith.
