And if e'er I return from the ocean, stores of riches I'll bring to my dear

[sovay]

Rabbit, rabbit! Somerville now legally recognizes polyamorous domestic partnerships:

The historic move was a result of a few subtle language shifts. For example, instead of being defined as an "entity formed by two persons," Somerville's ordinance defines a domestic partnership as an "entity formed by people," replaces "he and she" with "they," replaces "both" with "all," and contains other inclusive language.

On June 25, the City Council passed the ordinance recognizing domestic partnerships unanimously, and on June 29 Mayor Joe Curtatone signed it into municipal law. The city is in the process of changing the application to include space for more than two partners, but polyamorous partners will be able to file soon.

It's not yet marriage, but it's not chopped liver, and I am rather pleased. Words matter. They change the world they describe.

Comments

[weirdquark]

Personally I'd like to have a non-marriage option, because there might be people you want to be family without being married to any of them.

But having a marriage option is good too, so here is to having domestic partnerships where none, some, or all members are married to each other in the future, but are all definitely partners.

[sovay]

But having a marriage option is good too, so here is to having domestic partnerships where none, some, or all members are married to each other in the future, but are all definitely partners.

Amen!

(I agree that marriage is not the only kind of important relationship one can have with other people. I would like to see it on the books, though, and not merely because it would be important to me.)