POLICY ADVOCACY
What We Do
At Rewrite the BiLine, we believe that local, state, and national policies must reflect the realities of how people live and love. For too long, laws and public benefits have centered on the nuclear family model. Our policy work aims to shift that. We provide research-driven guidance to city councils, commissions, and legislators seeking to update laws and policies to be more inclusive of diverse family and relationship structures.
Why It Matters
Non-nuclear families are everywhere—among LGBTQ+ communities, immigrant households, multi-generational homes, and beyond. Yet many of these families remain invisible or unprotected under current laws. Without laws protecting diverse family and relationship structures, people can be denied housing, employment protections, visitation rights, leave to care for a partner, healthcare access, and parental recognition.
West Hollywood (CA) Campaign
In March 2025, Rewrite the BiLine began working with the City of West Hollywood to advance protections and rights for non-nuclear families. After a year of advocacy and local organizing, in March 2026, the City of West Hollywood unanimously voted to update its nondiscrimination ordinance, becoming the first city in Southern California and the 7th municipality in the nation to pass these protections.
West Hollywood also became the first city in California to advance implementation of a plural domestic partnership registry.
West Hollywood FAQ
How Does the Non-discrimination Law Work in West Hollywood?
Starting on April 15, 2026, it will be unlawful to discriminate against someone because of their actual or perceived family or relationship structure in West Hollywood, California. The protections apply across key areas of daily life, including:
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Housing — covering real estate transactions, rentals, financing, advertising, maintenance, repairs, and related terms or communications.
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Business establishments — ensuring equal access to goods, services, facilities, privileges, and accommodations.
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City facilities and services — protecting fair access to municipal programs and spaces.
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City-supported services — applying the same protections to services or facilities funded or supported by the City.
What's Next for the Plural Domestic Partnership Registry?
The City of West Hollywood staff is working on a plan and policies for implementing the plural domestic partnership registry by September 2026. Join our coalition to learn more and get involved in supporting this effort.
Where Can I Find the Legislative History?
March 2, 2026 - the City unanimously voted to 1) pass a non-discrimination ordinance to protect "diverse family and relationship structures," (second reading was March 16) and 2) develop and present a plan for recognizing plural domestic partnerships in 6 months.
June 23, 2025 - the City voted to direct the City Attorney to evaluate amending the City’s Domestic Partnership ordinance to allow people in diverse family relationships, including triads and polyamorous relationships, to register as domestic partners.
May 19, 2025 - the City unanimously voted to evaluate updates to the West Hollywood Municipal Code Chapter 9.28—the City’s Nondiscrimination Ordinance—to include protections against discrimination based on diverse family and relationship structures.
What Is the Fiscal Impact of the Laws?
The City of West Hollywood found that there would be no fiscal impact to expanding the non-discrimination ordinance to protest diverse family and relationship structures.
Additionally, results from a public records request filed by Rewrite the BiLine show that when Massachusetts municipalities expanded their domestic partnership ordinances to include partnerships of three or more people, the changes had no fiscal impact.
In the News
Policy Mapping
Rewrite the BiLine's map sheds light on the scope of work being done across the country and across movements to pass laws that protect diverse family and relationship structures.