Polyamorous relationships are legalized in Massachusetts city, receiving the same rights as couples in domestic partnerships as concerned residents hope to visit loved ones in hospitals who have the coronavirus
- The City of Somerville passed the ordinance during a council meeting on June 25, with it being signed into law on Monday by Mayor Joseph Curtatone
- Ordinance may be the first of its kind in the country, passing unanimously in the city council
- Several Massachusetts cities have already passed such policies prior to the passing of same sex marriage in the state in 2004
- Councilor JT Scott made the suggestion to change the ordinance to feature the language that was more inclusive of polyamorous couples
The City of Somerville passed the ordinance during a council meeting on June 25, with it being signed into law on Monday by Mayor Joseph Curtatone
A city just outside of Boston has unanimously voted to allow for polyamorous relationships, out of growing concern from residents hoping to visit their partners in hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic.
The City of Somerville passed the ordinance during a council meeting on June 25, with it being signed into law on Monday by Mayor Joseph Curtatone, Councilor Lance Davis told the Boston Globe.
The ordinance may be the first of its kind in the country. Several Massachusetts cities have already passed such policies prior to the passing of same sex marriage in the state in 2004.
‘I don’t think it’s the place of the government to tell people what is or is not a family,’ Davis said during a council meeting last week.
The ordinance for the city (pictured) may be the first of its kind in the country
He added: ‘Defining families is something that historically we’ve gotten quite wrong as a society, and we ought not to continue to try and undertake to do so.’
‘I don’t think it’s the place of the government to tell people what is or is not a family,’ Councilor Lance Davis said during a council meeting last week.
Councilor JT Scott made the suggestion to change the ordinance to feature the language that was more inclusive of polyamorous couples.
It comes as residents in the city of just more than 85,000 have asked city officials for consideration when visiting their partner’s in the hospital who have tested positive for the coronavirus.
‘The ordinance was ready to go, but it just didn’t feel right to me. I wanted more input,’ Davis said during the meeting.
At one point during the meeting, Davis – a lawyer – even suggested that upwards of 20 people could count in partnerships with each other legally.
Davis said that he has received mostly positive response from residents in the progressive suburb.
‘I got an e-mail from someone at my church that said, “Wow, this is amazing. Thank you so much for doing this,”‘ he said.
The ordinance passed unanimously in the city council (pictured with the mayor)