Massachusetts town adds polyamory protections

The town of Somerville, Massachusetts has added legal protections to a series of historic ordinances recognizing polyamorous families, defining “family or relationship structure” as a protected class.

That means polyamorous families and other chosen family structures in the city of 80,000 outside Boston will be entitled to the same legal protections as straight couples.

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In 2020, Somerville became the first city in the country to recognize polyamorous relationships with an expanded domestic partner ordinance. That legislation granted poly partners the same rights as married couples, including hospital visitation and conferring health insurance benefits.

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The latest ordinances also extend specific anti-discrimination protections in employment and for police interactions, while a fourth ordinance under consideration addresses housing discrimination. 

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“These ordinances are a step towards us having a society that fully embraces people of diverse relationship structures,” Willie Burnley Jr., Somerville’s city councilor at-large told The 19th News. “People shouldn’t be punished because of who they love or how many people they love, as long as they’re all consenting adults. We should be celebrating the kind of care and community that builds.”

These laws add protections against discrimination in employment & policing based on family or relationship structure, with a fair housing bill on its way. No one should be denied housing, a job, or justice because of who (or how many) they love. pic.twitter.com/9KbX7OMVPy

— Willie Burnley Jr