The US Cities Where Polyamorous Relationships Have Legal Protections
Summary
West Hollywood’s City Council unanimously approved an ordinance creating a registry for domestic relationships involving three or more people and extending certain local visitation and tenancy protections. The measure does not confer marriage status or state and federal marriage benefits, and its registration fee and process still require further steps.Key Facts
- West Hollywood approved the ordinance on November 2.
- The ordinance builds on a March measure barring discrimination based on family or relationship structure.
- The new ordinance creates a local registration process for relationships involving three or more people.
- Protections include certain hospital and jail visitation rights and safeguards related to rent adjustments and tenancy termination.
- The ordinance does not make registered groups legally married or grant marriage-related state or federal benefits, such as tax or immigration benefits.
- The city clerk is to schedule a separate public hearing to set a registration fee.
- A legal analysis identified 10 local governments with protections covering polyamorous relationships or broader family structures: Berkeley, Oakland, West Hollywood, Cambridge, Somerville, Hazel Park, Astoria, Portland, Olympia and Seattle.
- The jurisdictions’ laws differ; for example, Portland’s ordinance covers employment, housing and public accommodations, while Seattle expanded its definition of sexual orientation to include consensual multi-partner relationships.
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