West Hollywood, California, has unanimously approved an ordinance offering certain legal protections to people in relationships involving more than two partners.
The measure says the city supports recognizing and respecting consensual, committed relationships involving multiple adults and protecting those partners from discrimination.
The City Council voted 5-0 to let people in relationships of three or more submit a declaration to the city clerk. Partners who qualify could receive specific rights, including the ability to visit one another in hospitals and jails.
The ordinance does not make these relationships marriages or registered domestic partnerships, which would conflict with state or federal law. West Hollywood is among a small number of local governments to adopt protections for multi-partner relationships.
Brad Wilcox, a University of Virginia professor and senior fellow at the Institute for Family Studies, criticized the move. He argued that legal recognition could make polyamory more socially accepted and potentially open the door to polygamy.
Wilcox said he was concerned that children might live with adults who are neither their biological nor adoptive parents, and cited research he says links those arrangements to greater risks for children. He also argued that polygamy can deepen gender inequality and harm children by creating competition for a father’s attention and resources.
West Hollywood adopted an earlier anti-discrimination measure concerning polyamorous relationships in March. The new ordinance is set to take effect 30 days after its adoption.
