What is Polyamory? Inside California City's decision to legally recognize throuples and foursomes as domestic partners

In a major decision, California city has taken a huge step toward recognizing relationships involving more than two people. West Hollywood has approved a new ordinance allowing polyamorous throuples, foursomes and other multi-partner relationships to register as domestic partners, giving them certain legal protections. The decision, approved unanimously by the City Council on Tuesday (November 3), marks another development in how American cities recognize nontraditional family structures. Although this decision is controversial due to questioning the traditional beliefs about love and relations, there is no denying the doubts about the meaning of the term, reason for the adoption of such legislation and the degree of its protection.

WHAT IS POLYAMORY AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

Polyamory is when you are romantically or intimately involved with more than one person at the same time, but all parties know about this and agree to it. Unlike infidelity, polyamory involves honesty, communication, and mutual understanding among partners.

The relationship between three people is referred to as a 'throuple', whereas four individuals will be termed as a foursome. But the practice of polyamory is not restricted to just sharing a single house or or participating in the same relationship.

According to the New York Post, West Hollywood's new ordinance allows three or more adults in consensual relationships to officially register their partnerships with the city.

The registration is also available to people who do not reside in West Hollywood, potentially extending recognition to relationships beyond the city's boundaries.

Importantly, the law does not allow multiple spouses in marriage or the complete marriage benefits accorded under California state law to be recognized. The new law creates the local structure for recognizing the relationship which has been legally unrecognized so far.

To register as domestic partners, three or more individuals must submit the required paperwork to the city clerk. However, few specific conditions apply, including mutual consent among all partners and confirmation that they are not related by blood.

WHY DID WEST HOLLYWOOD DECIDE TO LEGALLY RECOGNIZE THROUPLES AND FOURSOMES?

According to the New york Post, West Hollywood's City Council unanimously approved the ordinance on November 3, following its introduction by Mayor John Heilman. The decision mainly targets to address practical difficulties faced by people in multi-partner relationships, particularly when dealing with hospitals, housing and other institutions.

Under the new rules, as reported by the media outlet, registered partners will receive certain hospital visitation rights and additional protections against losing their rental housing when another partner leaves.

The city had previously introduced protections against discrimination based on family or relationship structure. However, the new registration system does not automatically provide inheritance rights, federal tax benefits or the broader legal protections available to married couples.

West Hollywood is not the first American city to recognize such relationships. Somerville and Cambridge in Massachusetts have previously introduced similar domestic partnership arrangements.

The latest decision reflects a growing effort among some local governments to recognize different family structures while leaving existing marriage laws unchanged.