Olympia, Washington Proposes Ordinance for Polyamorous Family Protections
Olympia, the capital of Washington State, is considering an ordinance aimed at safeguarding polyamorous and other non-traditional family structures from discrimination.
“You know, people aren’t exactly hiding, but it can be tough for them to speak up about something so personal,” said Olympia City Councilman Robert Vanderpool. “We really want everyone to feel included in our community, not pushed aside.”
The proposed ordinance would add “family or relationship structures” as a protected class under the existing civil rights protections in Olympia. Polyamory typically refers to romantic relationships involving multiple partners, which contrasts with more common monogamous pairings.
This proposed legislation would encompass a variety of arrangements, including “household reciprocity configurations, intimate relationships among consenting adults, non-normative family setups, multi-parent families, blended households, single-parent-by-choice configurations, and chosen families,” according to information released by the city.
“I think housing is a huge concern for polyamorous and non-monogamous people, as well as chosen families. It’s really challenging for individuals in chosen families to secure a mortgage,” Vanderpool explained.
Leder in the city are collaborating with groups such as OPEN, an organization focused on polyamory and ethical non-monogamy, who are helping to draft the ordinance.
“Research from OPEN indicates that around 60% of non-monogamous individuals face bias or discrimination tied to their family or relationship structures,” said OPEN Executive Director Brett Chamberlain. “The discrimination can manifest as familial rejection, societal exclusion, job-related backlash, or even issues with healthcare providers.”
If passed, this ordinance would make Olympia the first city in Washington to formally recognize the growing diversity of family structures.
Chamberlain remarked, “These protections are essential as family and relationship dynamics are significantly evolving. Only about 18% of American households fit the traditional nuclear family model, yet our laws haven’t kept pace with this reality. Furthermore, around 5% of adults are in consensual non-monogamous relationships, with one in five likely to experience such a relationship at some point.”
He hopes the ordinance will be approved by February 9, potentially making Olympia the first city in Washington and the fifth in the U.S. to adopt these protections, following similar changes in places like Massachusetts and California.
On the other hand, some critics are skeptical. Conservative radio host Jason Lantz described the proposal as one that “masquerades as tolerance while actually elevating certain lifestyle choices above others.” He argued that mixing immutable characteristics with personal romantic decisions could blur essential lines in anti-discrimination laws.
Olympia’s City Manager mentioned that the staff is currently working on the draft ordinance, with plans to present it to the City Council later.
The city, which leans liberal, is part of Thurston County, a region that favored Kamala Harris in the recent presidential election.
