Gay magazine Instinct reports that the municipality of West Hollywood is beginning measures to recognise relationship groups that stand outside the traditional two person model.

Instinct were quoting the Los Angeles Times which reports that the civic authorities were going to allow people in threeway, fourway and other way relationships register their unions formally. Introduced by Mayor John Heilman, the ordinance creates a way for groups of at least three people to put their relationship on the city’s official record. Applicants must meet certain conditions, including confirming that everyone is consenting and that the partners aren’t related by blood. The benefits from the new law will be similar to those extended by the first same sex partnership registration for gay couples. Throuples and polyamorous partners can now insist on visiting rights in hospital and prisons, for example.

Instinct magazine emphasises that for now, the advantages of the new legislation are quite narrow and do not equate to marriage either heterosexual or homosexual. Nevertheless, even this limited reform has been welcomed by polyamorous campaign groups. Christina Fialho, founder of bisexual media advocacy group Rewrite the BiLine, who helped bring the idea of polyamorous relationship protections to West Hollywood officials. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, described the ordinance as a starting point that could help people imagine futures they once considered impossible.

According to the West Hollywood corporate website, West Hollywood (known as WeHo) is a world-renowned LGBTQ+ cultural, political, and social hub where over 40% of the population identifies as LGBTQ+. LGBTQ+ campaigners have been highly active in shaping the municipality and indeed in its inauguration in 1984.