Legislative Toolkit

On this page, you’ll find template language to help you throughout the process, from your initial outreach to councilmembers to testifying at a public hearing on the bill. Remember: these are just a starting point that you should feel free to adapt to your local context! Need help? Write us at info@open-love.org!

Template Outreach Email
[download template]

Subject: Discussing Community Support for Inclusive Family Protections

Dear [Legislator's Name],

I hope this email finds you well. My name is [Name], and I am [a constituent of / closely connected to] the community here in [Municipality]. I am reaching out because I’ve been reflecting on the diverse family and relationship structures that make up our community and wanted to start a dialogue with you about how we can ensure that all constituents and their loved ones feel supported and protected. 

Across the country, cities like Somerville, Cambridge, Oakland, and Berkeley have passed nondiscrimination ordinances aimed at protecting diverse family and relationship structures. These ordinances provide crucial legal protections for individuals and families who have historically faced stigma and discrimination due to their non-nuclear family arrangements or non-monogamous identities. It has been so encouraging to see the positive impact these policies have and I think we have an opportunity here in [Municipality] to explore how similar efforts might benefit our community at large, particularly in areas like housing and access to public services.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this and discuss whether this is something you’d be interested in exploring further. I would really like to open up a dialogue with you about how we can ensure our local policies reflect the diverse experiences of all partners and families here in [Municipality].

I am available at your convenience to discuss this further, share more about the research and examples I’ve come across, and provide any additional information you may need. Thank you so much for your consideration, and I look forward to connecting soon!

Warm regards,

[Your Name]

[Your Contact Information]

Template Meeting Agenda
[download template]

Talking Points:

• Purpose of the Ordinance: Explain that the ordinance aims to protect individuals and families in our municipality from discrimination based on their family or relationship structure. Emphasize that everyone deserves equal treatment and protection under the law, regardless of their familial arrangements.

• Legal Basis: Discuss the legal precedent and necessity for such an ordinance, citing similar legislation passed in other municipalities like Somerville, Cambridge, Oakland, and Berkeley. Highlight the importance of ensuring that our laws reflect the diversity of modern families and relationships.

• Impact on the Community: Describe how the ordinance will positively impact our community by fostering inclusivity, reducing stigma, and promoting fairness. Share any relevant data or anecdotes demonstrating the need for protection against discrimination based on family structure.

• Support and Collaboration: Express gratitude for the legislator's willingness to consider the proposal and emphasize the importance of collaboration between grassroots organizers and elected officials. Offer to provide any additional information or resources needed to support the drafting and passage of the ordinance.

Anticipated Questions and Answers:

• Question: What specific types of discrimination would this ordinance address?

  Answer: The ordinance would prohibit discrimination in areas such as housing, employment, public accommodations, and city-supported services based on an individual's family or relationship structure. This includes protections for individuals in polyamorous relationships, cohabiting unmarried couples, multi-generational households, blended families, and other non-nuclear family arrangements.
  

• Question: How would this ordinance be enforced, and what penalties would be imposed for violations?

  Answer: Enforcement mechanisms could include filing complaints with a designated city agency or human rights commission, similar to existing anti-discrimination laws. Penalties for violations might include fines, injunctions, or other remedies aimed at addressing and preventing discrimination.
  

• Question: How would this ordinance impact religious organizations or businesses with sincerely held beliefs about nuclear family structures?

  Answer: The ordinance would include exemptions for religious organizations and certain small businesses with bona fide religious beliefs, consistent with existing anti-discrimination laws. It would also provide essential protections for individuals and families in our community who do not share those beliefs and deserve equal treatment under the law.
  

• Question: Are there any potential challenges or criticisms associated with this ordinance?

  Answer: The ordinance is intended to promote fairness and inclusivity, and there may be concerns raised about its impact on religious freedom or the rights of business owners. Addressing these concerns through thoughtful drafting and collaboration with stakeholders will be essential to crafting a balanced and effective ordinance.

Legislator Info Packet
[download packet]

We recommend printing and bringing this info packet to your meeting with legislators. Make sure to familiarize yourself with its contents beforehand. You might also consider updating it with content specific to your city or state.

Sample Script for Public Meetings
[download template]

Good [morning / afternoon / evening], my name is [Name] and I am a [role as a grassroots organizer / in the movement and/or identity as a community member]. I am here today to advocate for the passage of the nondiscrimination ordinance protecting diverse family and relationship structures in our community. 

This ordinance aims to protect individuals and families in our municipality from discrimination based on their family or relationship structure. It is imperative that we ensure that all of our community members receive equal treatment under the law, regardless of their agreed upon familial arrangements. This ordinance will positively impact our community by fostering inclusivity, reducing stigma, and promoting fairness in housing, employment, public accommodations, and city-supported services. Similar ordinances have already been passed in several municipalities across the country, such as Somerville, MA, Cambridge, MA, Oakland, CA, and Berkeley, CA. 

[Personal Stories/Testimonials OR Subject Matter Expertise] Share personal stories or testimonials from individuals in our community who have experienced discrimination based on their family or relationship structure, illustrating the real-life impact and necessity of this ordinance. If you have expertise in this area (e.g., you are a healthcare professional who treats patients that have been impacted by discrimination based on family or relationship structure), please share those stories/data, as well.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to collaborate with grassroots organizers, elected officials, and community members in crafting and advocating for the passage of this ordinance and sincerely believe that the needs of our diverse communities are best served when people of diverse backgrounds come together to achieve common goals. I implore our legislators to support and pass this nondiscrimination ordinance to ensure that our municipality remains a welcoming and inclusive place for all residents.

Template Press Release
[download template]

[City, State] - [Date] - [Municipality] has [passed / introduced] new protections extending nondiscrimination laws to cover family and relationship structure, [INSERT ADDITIONAL DETAILS ABOUT SIGNIFICANCE OF MUNICIPALITY HERE (e.g., first in state, ##th city in the U.S./region, etc.)]. The [municipality] ordinance follows the passage of similar protections in [INSERT RECENTLY PASSED NONDISCRIMINATION ORDINANCES AND THEIR DATES AND LOCATION HERE].  

The ordinance prohibits discrimination in areas such as housing, business establishments and public services on the basis of family or relationship structure. The protections cover individuals with diverse family and relationship structures, including multi-parent families and relationships, step-families, multi-generational households, single parents, non-nuclear family structures, consensually non-monogamous relationships, and asexual/aromantic relationships.  

The introduction of these ordinances reflects a growing social understanding of the diverse forms that families and relationships take today, as well as increasing advocacy efforts by groups like the [INSERT DETAILS ABOUT ADVOCACY GROUPS INVOLVED IN THIS EFFORT HERE]. [NOTE ANY ORDINANCES THAT ARE PENDING ELSEWHERE HERE]. 

[INSERT QUOTES AS DESIRED HERE]

These bills are an essential step forward in the movement for family inclusivity and recognition of the increasing diversity of families in the United States. They also come on the heels of ordinances in [INSERT MUNICIPALITIES WITH RECENTLY PASSED NONDISCRIMINATION ORDINANCES HERE], which [INSERT STATEMENT ABOUT IMPACT OF OTHER ORDINANCES HERE].  

Contact for follow up interviews available:

[INSERT NAMES, TITLES, AND CONTACT INFORMATION HERE] 

Polyamory Legal Advocacy Coalition (PLAC): info@polyamorylegaladvocacycoalition.org 

Brett Chamberlin (he/him), Executive Director of Organization for Polyamory and Ethical Non-monogamy: brett@open-love.org, (603) 978-9095

Alexander Chen (he/him), Founding Director, Harvard Law School LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic; Co-Founder of the Polyamory Legal Advocacy Coalition; achen@law.harvard.edu; (617) 390-2656

Heath Schechinger, Ph.D. (he/they), Founder of the Modern Family Institute; Co-Founder of the Polyamory Legal Advocacy Coalition; Founding Co-Chair of the American Psychological Association Division 44 Committee on Consensual Non-Monogamy; heath@modernfamilyinstitute.org; (510) 435-9756