Seattle passes measure to protect non-monogamous people as protected class
City council votes unanimously in favor of bill that also protects multigenerational households
TL;DR
- Seattle City Council unanimously approved a bill extending civil rights protections to non-monogamous people, multigenerational households, and other gender/sexual identities.
- Seattle is the 10th city and the largest to pass such a law, following cities like Cambridge, Somerville, Berkeley, and Oakland.
- The measure aims to protect individuals from discrimination in housing, employment, and interactions with police.
- Research indicates a significant portion of North Americans have engaged in consensual non-monogamy, with many experiencing discrimination.
- Advocates view this as a crucial step in protecting minority rights and preventing the rollback of existing legal progress, citing concerns about conservative efforts to curtail rights.
- The law will go into effect on June 1, 2027, and efforts are underway to improve enforcement of anti-discrimination laws.
- Similar measures are being pursued in other major cities including Baltimore, Denver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.