Family and Relationship Structure Discrimination Protections

[Date]

[Councilor Name]
Portland City Council
1221 SW 4th Avenue
Portland, OR 97204

Dear Councilor _______________,

I am writing as your constituent to express my strong support for the proposed ordinance to add "family or relationship structure" as a protected category in Portland's existing non-discrimination laws. This vital legislation would ensure that all Portland residents have equal access to housing, employment, and public accommodations, regardless of how they structure their families or consensual relationships.

Please include enumeration of all forms of non-monogamous relationships, as well as blended, chosen, and multigenerational family structures. Without the explicit inclusion, this law does not protect the vast ways our community loves.

Portland has always been a leader in protecting diverse communities, and this ordinance continues that tradition. The reality is that only 18% of U.S. households resemble the traditional nuclear family model. Our city is home to many residents living in blended families, multi-generational households, single-parent families, and consensually non-monogamous relationships. Currently, these families lack explicit legal protections and face real discrimination in crucial areas of life.

The evidence is clear that discrimination exists. Recent surveys show that individuals in non-traditional family structures report experiencing stigma and discrimination in housing (5%), employment (9%), healthcare (23%), and other essential services. Without legal protections, many residents are forced to hide their family structures to avoid discrimination, taking a significant toll on mental health and preventing them from accessing appropriate services.

The proposed ordinance would:

• Add "family or relationship structure" protections to existing city code

• Require no additional city staff or budget resources

• Be enforced through existing legal mechanisms

• Provide significant positive impact on family stability and well-being

Similar protections have been successfully implemented in Berkeley, Oakland, Cambridge, and Somerville with straightforward implementation and positive community response. California has also recently passed state-level legislation recognizing diverse family structures, demonstrating growing momentum for these protections.

[Personal story/reason for support - please add 2-3 sentences about why this issue is important to you personally]:

This ordinance aligns with Portland's values of inclusion and equality. It costs nothing to implement but provides immeasurable value in protecting vulnerable community members from discrimination. I urge you to support this legislation and help ensure that all Portland families are treated with dignity and respect under the law.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your support for this important civil rights measure.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email]

[Date]

[Councilor Name]
Portland City Council
1221 SW 4th Avenue
Portland, OR 97204

Dear Councilor _______________,

Thank you for championing Family and Relationship Structure protections. I am writing to express my strong support for the proposed ordinance to add "family or relationship structure" as a protected class in Portland's existing non-discrimination laws. This vital legislation would ensure that all Portland residents have equal access to housing, employment, and public accommodations, regardless of how they structure their families or consensual relationships.

I am concerned with the current language and encourage the reintroduction of the definition for Intimate personal relationship, which is critical to explicitly protecting folks in expansive families and relationships.  

Lawyers at the Polylamory Legal Advocacy Coalition explain the importance of enumeration:

In general, enumeration supports explicit interpretation of the law that would not otherwise be possible. Explicit interpretation in turn helps two groups of people: the general public and the judiciary. 

Explicit interpretation though enumeration helps the general public know exactly how to act under the law. When terms are defined, we know which behaviors are explicitly prohibited (discrimination against families with more than two partners / parents) and which behaviors are explicitly protected (seeking protection from discrimination as a family with more than two partners / parents). Without enumeration, the public would not understand how to follow the law, nor how the law protects us. 

The second group that is supported by explicit interpretation via enumeration is the judiciary. Through textualist analysis, courts would be obligated to give recognition of those enumerated identities so long as they’re actually presented in the statute, whereas they would not necessarily interpret the sentence as currently written as reaching some of them (including families with more than two partners / parents). Enumeration therefore ensures protection for the most marginalized or minority types of relationships that courts may otherwise fail to recognize based on their own biases or legal interpretation of the statute.

Here's a good primer on why enumeration is important in a slightly different context. I hope this is helpful! https://rlas.pire.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/GLSEN-What-is-Enumeration.pdf 

I urge you to introduce an amendment to reintroduce this language into the bill. Vague wording will only hurt people. Without this, people will still fear being fired for their relationship structure, be denied housing because of their family structure, and legally discriminated against in society.

Thank you again for championing this important policy. 

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email]

Hello, my name is ___. I am live in [Your district]. I am calling in strong support of the ‘family and relationship structure’ ordinance you are considering.

It is currently legal to discriminate against people in Non-monogamous relationships in all 50 states. It’s time to change that. This is a simple, no cost to the city ordinance that will help thousands of Portlanders feel safe to live their most authentic life, free of systemic persecution in housing, employment, and public services.

Portland has long been a progressive city that uplifts our most vulnerable. Please support the ‘family and relationship structure’ ordinance and keep Portland safe.