By Gregory Korte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati City Council voted 7-2 today to expand the city's hate-crimes ordinance to protect gays and lesbians.

The law makes it a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail, to harass, menace or deface someone's property because of his or her sexual orientation, age or disability. The law already applied to crimes motivated by hatred based on race, color, national origin or religion.

The vote was along party lines: Democrats Paul Booth, Minette Cooper, John Cranley, David Crowley and David Pepper and Charterite James R. Tarbell supported it. Republicans Pat DeWine and Chris Monzel voted no.

Opponents of the law say they'll sue, citing Article XII of the city charter. The amendment, passed in 1993, prohibits City Council from passing any law giving "protected class" status based on sexual orientation.