SNOW TV NEWS DESK
A city in Los Angeles County, California, has taken a significant step towards recognizing non-traditional relationships after unanimously approving an ordinance allowing people in polyamorous relationships, including throuples and groups of four, to register as domestic partners.
The ordinance, introduced by Mayor John Heilman, was approved by the city council on Tuesday. It allows three or more adults in mutually consensual, committed relationships to officially register their partnerships with the city and access certain legal protections.
Under the new measure, registered partners will enjoy benefits such as hospital visitation rights and recognition by healthcare facilities and city-operated jails. The ordinance also introduces additional housing protections aimed at preventing discrimination against people in multi-partner relationships.
For instance, landlords will not be allowed to terminate or refuse to renew a tenancy simply because a registered partner continues living in the rented property.
However, the new law does not place polyamorous relationships on the same legal footing as marriage or traditional domestic partnerships. It offers limited protections rather than granting participants the full range of rights and benefits available to married couples.
To qualify for registration, all individuals involved must freely consent to the relationship and must not be related by blood. Interestingly, applicants do not have to be residents of West Hollywood to register.
The development has been welcomed by advocates pushing for greater recognition of diverse family structures. Christina Fialho, an attorney and founder of an advocacy group Rewrite the following: BiLine, who first proposed the protections in 2025, described the approval as an important milestone.
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, she said, “This law is just the beginning.”
Fialho believes the measure could help people in non-traditional relationships envision a future in which their families receive greater recognition and protection.
Supporters argue that the ordinance addresses real challenges faced by polyamorous families, particularly discrimination in housing, healthcare, and education, where existing laws may not adequately recognize their relationships.
However, the decision has also generated opposition from conservative groups. The California Family Council, which previously criticized support for polyamorous relationships as “cultural suicide,” is among those opposed to the development.
The decision highlights an ongoing debate over how far legal recognition should extend beyond traditional family structures, as some communities push for more inclusive protections while others maintain that existing definitions of family should remain unchanged.
“Sir Bartholomew White Ebe is a Lagos-based media personality, Music Artist, Producer, and a Relationship Coach and independent journalist. With over seven years of experience tracking political developments and cultural shifts in Nigeria, he specializes in local current affairs, grassroots politics, and community-driven reporting across Lagos State. As the founder and chief editor of Snow Multimedia Connect {SNOW TV}, he leads the editorial team to deliver verified, high-impact stories to digital audiences.”
Email: snowmediaconnect@gmail.com
