Seattle's civil rights laws could soon cover polyamory
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
Seattle officials are weighing a proposal that would extend civil rights protections to people in polyamorous relationships.
Why it matters: The measure would make people who engage in consensual nonmonogamy, including polyamory, a protected class that can't be discriminated against in areas such as housing or employment.
The big picture: A handful of U.S. cities — including Olympia, Portland, West Hollywood, Oakland and Berkeley — have passed similar protections.
- An estimated 4% to 5% of Americans are engaged in consensually nonmonogamous relationships, according to The Polyamory Legal Advocacy Coalition.
What they're saying: The Seattle City Council ordinance's goal is to "prohibit discrimination based on family and relationship structure as fully as possible," Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, the bill's sponsor, said at a committee meeting Wednesday.
- "We all know that every family is different and we need to be clear that every family receives equal protection under the law," Rinck said. "And chosen family is family."
- "This update reflects how people actually live," Rinck added.
Being "out" as polyamorous can expose people to discrimination, causing some people to "pretend to not love" one of their romantic partners, Tyson Holman, co-chair of the Seattle Coalition for Family & Relationship Equity, told council members Wednesday.
- "That's why these protections are so important — we don't have to worry about losing our homes or our jobs or our families," Holman said.
The ordinance would also extend civil rights protections to people who identify as asexual, who generally don't experience sexual attraction, and those who are pansexual, meaning they're attracted to people regardless of gender.
- Multigenerational families living under the same roof would also receive protections.
What's next: Rinck's proposal passed out of a city council committee this week and is headed to the full council for consideration.
- If approved, the new protections would take effect in June.