NEWS

SHEPARD VIGIL

Stonewall Cincinnati will co-sponsor a vigil against violence tonight for Matthew Shepard, the 21-year-old victim of the Wyoming gay-bashing attack. The vigil will begin at 8 p.m. in front of Tangeman Hall at the University of Cincinnati.

Councilman Todd Portune proposed the measure during council's regular weekly meeting Wednesday. His action came one day after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of the 1993 voter-approved charter amendment prohibiting the city from extending protection solely to gays, lesbians and bisexuals on anything, including housing and employment discrimination.

Already there is a hate-crimes initiative on the books that makes offenses on the basis of race, religion or "region of origin" criminal.

"Today, I am asking council to amend the ordinance to add crimes committed due to such a motive of hatred arising out of the intended victim's age, gender, disability, actual or perceived status of a person with respect to his or her sexuality and - or perceived membership in any of the protected groups," Mr. Portune said.

"In addition to criminal prosecution, there should be civil remedies available to victims of hate crimes so victims can be compensated and the city can underwrite the costs of prosecution or other efforts to eradicate hate crimes."

Last week's case in Laramie, Wyo., where a gay college student was tortured and slain, as well as the Issue 3 decision redefines the intolerance that Mr. Portune said is unacceptable.

Mr. Portune was the author of the city's original hate crime law, passed in 1995. Under that law, those who commit assault, aggravated menacing, criminal damaging or endangering, criminal mischief or telephone harassment by "reasons of the race, color, religion, or national origin of another person" are guilty of first-degree misdemeanors.