Hate Law Challenge Tossed Out

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscontent/122303cinciHate.htm

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging Cincinnati's inclusion of gays and lesbians in the city's hate crimes ordinance.

The suit, filed by a conservative action group and two Republican lawmakers claimed that protecting gays and lesbians was a violation of the city's ban on enacting or enforcing any measure that gives "minority or preferential status, quota preference or other preferential treatment" to people asserting gay, lesbian or bisexual status. The ban, part of the city's charter, was approved by voters in 1993.

The city's hate crime law increases the sentences of those convicted of certain crimes, including assault, menacing, aggravated menacing, criminal damaging, criminal mischief and telephone harassment. Upon conviction it could add up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine to a sentence.

[skypilot]

1. Finally...

...some good news out of Cincinnati!!

[Bush_Unemployed_04]

2. compassionate conservatism is action.....

n/t

[Zhade]

3. Good move on the judge's part.

Nice to hear some good news!

Anyone remember when Bush refused to sign hate-crime legislation in Texas? "All crimes are hate crimes" - yeah, unless the hate creates the crime, idiot.

[pinto]

4. good example of the importance of an independent judiciary...n/t

[Come Together]

6. Yes!

Everyone: each of our favorite candidates cannot be nominated (obviously). Please, nobody get so ticked that you sit this one out. ABB if only for the judiciary!!!

:kick:

[tom_paine]

5. Now I don't generally agree with the whole Hate Crimes Thing

but it is certainyl a "compassionate conservative" plank that people who beat the crap out of gays should go free.

What a shame "politicasl correctness" forces them to hide their true feelings.

</sarcasm off>

[revcarol]

7. I hope Cincinnatians will keep us informed when these

"gentlemen"(ahem) run for office again, so we can throw a few bucks to their OPPONENTS.

[Deesh]

8. Censornati

SkyPilot is right -- at last some good news out of that town.

Geographically, Cincinnatians have it lucky. Rivertown spirit, beautiful homes built in and among seven hills. It's nice.

But Greater Cincinnati is the reddest hue of right-wing Republicanism. Unbelievably reactionary. Quite a few wealthy Bush supporters there as well. Cincinnati's AM radio station WLW is arguably the most conservative in the country. Cincinnati's police seem prone to kill black citizens. County prosecutors there persecute museum directors for controversial art exhibits. And the paper, The Enquirer, absolutely sucks.

At least a judge has halted this challenge to Hate Crimes protections.

It's an impressive start. I hope Cincinnati progressives will build on this and begin to assert themselves. Let's not let right-wing reactionaries ruin such a beautiful city.