The Seattle City Council extended legal discrimination protections to people in polyamorous relationships, as well as people who identify as pansexual and asexual.
In a legislation sponsored by council member Alexis Mercedes Rinck, the definition of sexual orientation as written into Seattle city code was expanded from heterosexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality to now also include polyamory, pansexuality, and asexuality.
According to this legislation, pansexuality is defined as “experiencing potential attraction to other people, regardless of gender identity”, while and asexuality as “not experiencing sexual attraction to other people, but potentially experiencing romantic attractions or significant connections to other people.”
The legislation similarly adds a clause about consensual non-monogamous relationships.
“ Every family is different, but every single one deserves equal protection under the law,” Mercedes Rinck was quoted as saying. “ Chosen family is family.”
Mercedes Rinck noted that diverse relationship structures need to be recognized, including multi-partner, multi-parent families and relationships, stepfamilies, single parents, co-parents, multi-generational households, consensually non-monogamous relationships, and consensual and/or intimate relationships, including asexual and aromantic relationships.
The legislation will take effect in June 2027.
