West Hollywood City Council Approves Polyamorous Partnership Law

The West Hollywood City Council in California has unanimously approved an ordinance allowing individuals in polyamorous relationships, such as throuples (three people) and foursomes (four people), to officially register their partnerships. Introduced by Mayor John Heilman, the law enables these multi-partner relationships to file a declaration with the city clerk, granting them specific legal protections, including hospital visitation rights and protections against certain evictions.

However, the law does not provide the same legal recognition as marriage or domestic partnerships under California state law. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate mutual consent and must not be related by blood in a manner that would prevent marriage under state law.

The ordinance is part of a broader initiative to extend protections to non-traditional family structures, following a previous measure prohibiting discrimination based on relationship structure. Attorney and activist Christina Fialho, who advocated for these protections, described the ordinance as an important beginning for envisioning a more inclusive future.