Olympia Expands Civil Rights to Non-Traditional Families

Olympia, Washington is taking steps to ensure all families feel protected and valued, regardless of how they're structured.

The state capital is advancing an ordinance that would add "family or relationship structure" to its civil rights protections. This change would shield non-traditional families from discrimination in housing, employment, healthcare, and other services.

City Council Member Robert Vanderpool says the goal is helping people feel welcome rather than ostracized. "With issues like this, it's hard for folks to come forward about these things because it is a very private thing," he told local news.

The protection would cover a wide range of family arrangements. This includes multi-generational households, blended families, single parents by choice, and chosen families where non-relatives live together as family units.

Housing emerged as a particular concern during discussions. Vanderpool noted that people in non-traditional family structures often face challenges when trying to add household members to mortgages or lease agreements.

The city is working with advocacy groups to shape the ordinance. According to Brett Chamberlain of the Organization for Polyamory and Ethical Non-Monogamy, research shows 60 percent of people in diverse family structures report experiencing stigma or discrimination.

These challenges can include family rejection, job loss, problems with Child Protective Services, or denial of medical care. Chamberlain points out that only 18 percent of U.S. households now fit the traditional nuclear family model.

The Ripple Effect

If passed on February 9, Olympia would become the first city in Washington state with these protections. It would join Somerville and Cambridge in Massachusetts, plus Berkeley and Oakland in California, which adopted similar measures in recent years.

The ordinance represents a growing recognition that American families look different than they did generations ago. By updating civil rights protections, Olympia hopes to create space for all residents to build the family structures that work for them without fear of losing their homes or jobs.

City leaders see this as catching up with the reality of how people actually live today.