A city in California, United States, has approved a law allowing people in polyamorous relationships, including throuples and foursomes, to register their partnerships and access certain legal protections.
A throuple refers to a romantic relationship involving three people, while a foursome involves four. Both are forms of polyamory, which describes consensual romantic relationships involving multiple partners.
The West Hollywood City Council unanimously approved the ordinance on Tuesday, establishing a registry for domestic relationships involving multiple partners.
The measure, introduced by the city’s Mayor, John Heilman, allows three or more adults in consensual relationships to submit a declaration to the city clerk for official registration.
According to The Washington Times, the registration provides certain protections, including hospital visitation rights and safeguards against some forms of eviction or tenancy termination.
A report by the Los Angeles Times also stated that the ordinance requires healthcare facilities and jails within the city’s jurisdiction to allow registered partners to visit patients or inmates, subject to applicable visitor restrictions.
However, the new law does not grant polyamorous relationships the same legal recognition or rights enjoyed by married couples or domestic partners recognised under California state law.
