While much of the U.S. is turning back the clock in civil rights and sexual freedom, is the Pacific Northwest becoming a haven for sexual tolerance?
Portland, Oregon is the latest U.S. city to codify polyamorous rights in housing, jobs, and public spaces. Portland’s ordinance is the latest in a recent wave of cities including West Hollywood and Olympia, Washington’s capital city, extending civil rights protections to those in nontraditional family or romantic arrangements. Eight cities across Massachusetts and the west coast now have some form of legal recognition of polyamorous relationships.
Seattle, Washington has seen a huge influx of transgender and queer individuals who are leaving states with anti-LGBTQ+ policies. This influx has strained local housing, food, and other resources causing the Seattle LGBTQ Commission to request that Mayor Katie Wilson declare a civil state of emergency. The mayor is launching an interdepartmental team to assess community needs by the end of the summer while advocates are pushing to expand funding now.
