The Cincinnati Post |
NEWS
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Oct. 15, 1998 |
| Just days after a University of Wyoming student was brutally murdered because
he was gay, Cincinnati City Council is considering legislation to expand the
city's anti-hate crime ordinance to include age, gender, disability and actual
or perceived sexual orientation.
Cincinnat City Council Member Todd Portune introduced the proposal Wednesday to City Council. It was referred to the city administration for report. Portune called the proposal the ''first of what will be a series of efforts.'' Portune argued that the changes, which also allow victims to seek civil redress for damages, are not a violation of Tuesday's Supreme Court decision which let stand the city's Charter Amendment prohibiting the city |
from passing
measures to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination. ''The proposal is
not about granting rights or privileges but rather about stamping out crime and
punishing criminal activity,'' Portune said. ''This is neither a question of
morals nor religious beliefs - instead it represents a strong statement by
Council that it is not acceptable behavior to specifically target an individual
for crime based upon that person's perceived or actual sexuality.''
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