Cincinnati adds gender identity, expression to hate crime ordinance

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - It was a moment of unity on Plum Street as Cincinnati City Council voted to include gender identity and gender expression onto the list of protected classes.

“This is becoming a kumbaya. This is a beautiful thing,” said Mayor John Cranley.

For Tristan Vaught, it's a sign of progress.

“I think it's a great first step,” said Vaught, who is transgender and identifies as non-binary.

They co-founded Transform Cincy, a nonprofit that helps transgender youth find new wardrobes. Vaught says they have experienced hate, especially when it comes to bathrooms.

“I’ve been pushed; I’ve been shoved. I had a woman pull a gun on me one time and tell me I was not supposed to be in that bathroom, and when we start looking at that, had something happened to me, that should've been a hate crime because it was my identity,” said Vaught.

Now in Cincinnati, that rings true.

Council Member Chris Seelbach says this is a big deal, especially for transgender youth.

“Hopefully they see that the government, the people that represent them and are making decisions that impact their lives every day, support them, accept them for exactly who they are and who they love,” said Seelbach.

Seelbach says council tried to do this 15 years ago, but they got it wrong. The ordinance said transgender status was a protected sexual orientation.

“Transgender status is, first of all, not a word and being transgender has nothing to do with one's sexual orientation,” said Seelbach.

“Gender identity is who I go to bed as; sexual orientation is who I go to bed with,” said Vaught.

Vaught says they hope protecting gender identity doesn't stop at Cincinnati’s city limits.

“I think the policy is a good start because they're listening,” said Vaught.

Gender identity is not a protected class in Ohio or Kentucky, but efforts are underway to do so.