Subj: Cincinnati Injunction Obtained! Date: 93-11-16 14:28:33 EST From: LLDEF FEDERAL COURT PUTS CINCINNATI ANTI-GAY INITIATIVE ON HOLD (CINCINNATI, OHIO, November 16, 1993) Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund today obtained an order from an Ohio federal court to block an anti-gay amendment to Cincinnati's charter passed by the city's voters on November 2nd. In the absence of this injunction, the charter amendment, which threatened to prevent Cincinnati's city council from prohibiting discrimination against lesbians, gay men and bisexuals and repeal existing laws, would have taken effect today. Beatrice Dohrn, Lambda's Legal Director, noted, "Just as the DC Circuit found in the Steffan ruling announced today, the court recognized that the prejudice of others against lesbians and gay men may not form the basis of law or policy." Ruling that the amendment appeared to violate the fundamental constitutional rights of the plaintiffs and could cause them irreparable harm if allowed to take effect, Judge Arthur Spiegel issued the preliminary injunction to block the proposed law until a full trial on its merits. "The court recognized that fundamental civil rights of lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals cannot be voted away by popular election," said Patricia M. Logue, managing Attorney of Lambda's Midwest Regional Office. "The Cincinnati amendment is blatantly discriminatory and offensive to our constitution. It is part of a city- by-city and state-by-state effort to cut back on civil rights gains and use the power of government to stigmatize lesbian and gay citizens," said Lambda attorney Suzanne B. Goldberg. Along with Lambda, Cincinnati civil rights attorney Alphonse A. Gerhardstein and the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio are litigating the case. Founded in 1973, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund is the nation's oldest and largest non-profit legal organization working to advance the legal and civil rights of lesbians, gay men and people with HIV/AIDS.