West Hollywood, California, has approved a city ordinance that allows the recognition of polyamorous relationships. This decision, passed unanimously on a Monday, provides protections for citizens in multipartner domestic relationships under city law.
The ordinance states the city’s policy to acknowledge and protect the rights of those in multi-partner relationships, ensuring they receive respect and are free from discrimination based on their relationship structure. Such diverse relationships, often involving more than two adults in committed and consensual partnerships, are becoming more common.
It is hereby declared as the public policy of the City of West Hollywood that it is necessary to recognize and protect the right and opportunity of all persons to have multi-partner domestic relationships formally recognized and respected…
The West Hollywood City Council supported the ordinance with a 5-0 vote. This allows individuals in relationships with three or more partners to register with the city clerk. Doing so grants them specific rights, including hospital and jail visitation rights.
However, the ordinance does not recognize polyamorous relationships as equivalent to marriage or registered domestic partnerships under state or federal law. Despite this, West Hollywood is one of the few local governments offering some protections for multipartner relationships.
Fox News Digital contacted West Hollywood’s communications department for comments but did not receive an immediate response.
Critics have voiced concerns, including University of Virginia professor and Institute for Family Studies senior fellow Brad Wilcox. He warned that the ordinance might normalize polyamory and potentially lead to polygamy. Wilcox argued that recognizing such relationships could put children at risk by placing them with unrelated adults. He also highlighted the possible gender inequalities resulting from polygamous arrangements.
The dangers of legally recognizing polyamorous relationships are twofold…
Earlier in the year, West Hollywood passed an anti-discrimination ordinance for polyamorous relationships. This new ordinance will be enacted 30 days after its adoption.
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