California city approves legal recognition of throuples and other multi-partner relationships

 Hollywood, a city in Los Angeles County, California, U.S. has unanimously approved an ordinance allowing people in polyamorous relationships, including throuples and foursomes, to register as domestic partners.

The ordinance, introduced by Mayor John Heilman, was passed by the city council on Tuesday and allows three or more people in committed relationships to officially register their partnerships with the city.

Under the measure, registered partners will enjoy certain protections, including hospital visitation rights and recognition by healthcare facilities and city-operated jails. They will also receive additional housing protections.

The ordinance further prevents landlords from terminating or refusing to renew a tenancy simply because a registered partner remains in the rented property.

However, the measure does not grant multi-partner relationships the same legal rights and benefits enjoyed by married couples or traditional domestic partners.

To qualify, participants must mutually consent to the arrangement and must not be related by blood. Registration is also open to people who do not live in West Hollywood.

Christina Fialho, an attorney and founder of advocacy group Rewrite the BiLine, who first proposed the protections in 2025, described the development as a significant step forward.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, she said, “This law is just the beginning.”

She added that the measure could make it possible for people to imagine a future they previously thought was out of reach.

Supporters say the ordinance is intended to address discrimination against nontraditional families in areas such as housing, healthcare and education.

However, the move has attracted criticism from opponents, including the conservative California Family Council, which previously described support for polyamorous relationships as “cultural suicide.”