Rep. Antonio Introduces Bipartisan Bill To Increase Hate Crime Protections For LGBT Individuals
Legislation includes “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” under hate crime laws
State Rep. Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) today introduced legislation to expand the scope of ethnic intimidation law and include specified crimes committed based on a person’s actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity along with disability, ethnicity and gender. This legislation also renames the offense of “ethnic intimidation” to “bias-motivated crime.”
“It’s time for Ohio to join the thirty-six other states that have laws against hate or bias-based crimes on sexual orientation and gender identity,” said Antonio. “The majority of Ohioans value fairness and do not support hate crimes committed against any group. No one should have to live in fear due to lack of legal protections.”
Under current law, ethnic intimidation is defined as certain offenses based on race, color, religion or national origin. Crimes committed in Ohio based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity cannot be prosecuted as a hate crime unless the offense meets rigid interstate commerce requirements. This legislation will amend and strengthen current law and give law enforcement officials in Ohio the ability to more effectively prosecute hate crimes.
Even though sexual orientation is recorded as a motivator in crime, Ohio remains one of fourteen states that do not have laws that address hate or bias crimes based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Across the nation, 18% of hate crime offenses occur due to a person’s sexual orientation. According to a January 2016 report by the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services, the Ohio hate crime rate of 4.1 incidents per 100,000 populations is significantly higher than the national average of 1.8 incidents per 100,000 populations.[1] The same study shows that biased hate crimes based on sexual orientation is the second highest hate crime motivator in Ohio.
Hate crimes fragment communities because they target individuals with the intention of causing fear to a whole community. These crimes are intended to “send a message” that an individual and “their kind” will not be tolerated, many times leaving the victim and others in their group feeling isolated, vulnerable and unprotected. Hateful acts cannot and should not be tolerated under any circumstances.
A bipartisan group of 13 Republican and Democratic lawmakers signed on as co-sponsors during the bill’s introduction.
*In Ohio, 61 percent of bias incidents were related to race, 17 percent were related to sexual orientation, 14 percent were related to ethnicity, 6 percent were related to religion, and 2 percent were related to disability. According to this same report, hate crimes motivated by perceived or actual sexual orientation of victims has been on the rise since 2010[1].
Nickie Antonio
State Representative Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) is honored to be serving her third term in the Ohio House of Representatives, where she was elected by her collegaues as Minority Whip for the 131st General Assembly. House District 13 includes the city of Lakewood in its entirety and parts of Cleveland’s West Side including the Detroit Shoreway (Gordon Square Arts District), the Stockyards, West Boulevard, Cuddell, the Village of Linndale, and a section of Ohio City neighborhoods. Representative Antonio is a civic minded public servant who is concerned with the quality of life of those around her and has been a social justice advocate working for human rights and equality for all people for more than two decades. Antonio began her public policy service when she was elected to Lakewood City Council in 2005 and was re-elected in 2009. During her tenure on Lakewood City Council she chaired the Economic Development, Housing, and Human Services committees and served on the Public Works and Finance Committees and was the council representative for the Lakewood Hospital Board and Community Relations Boards. She brought successful strategies for economic development through proactive policies such as the first ever sidewalk dining legislation, the results of which can be seen today in the vibrant outdoor dining scene throughout the city. Ever concerned about environmental policy and practice, Antonio also shepherded through legislation to reduce toxic emissions through a reduced idling ordinance. Antonio also exercised leadership by developing opportunities for diversity appreciation and understanding and civic engagement through the Lakewood Community Relations Advisory Commission of which she was a founder and promoted citizen human rights by expanding protections in the existing municipal intimidation laws. She also championed the push to retain funding for senior programs and services. Antonio is an alumni of the Harvard Kennedy School Senior and Executive Leadership program for State and Local governments. The first in her family to graduate from college, Antonio holds a Master of Public Administration Degree from the Maxine Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, also from CSU. She is a graduate of Lutheran West High School located in Rocky River, Ohio. A former Special Education teacher and non-profit Executive Director for a women’s outpatient drug/alcohol treatment program, she also served for nearly two decades as a consultant to non-profits and governmental agencies throughout Northeast Ohio and served as administrator for a multi-County HIV/AIDS regional planning group. During this same period she was an Adjunct Professor at CSU teaching courses in Women’s Studies and Public Administration policies and practice. She continues her civic involvement through membership in numerous community groups and serves in an advisory capacity for Spaces Art Gallery and on the board of the non-profit Cleveland Tenants Organization. Antonio currently serves as Ranking Member of the Health and Aging Committee. She also serves on the Finance and Appropriations Committee, Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee, and the Joint Legislative Committee for Unified Long-Term Servics and Supports. Rep. Antonio is a member of the Ohio House Democratic Women's Caucus. Because of her social justice advocacy and activity, Antonio is known as a collaborative community builder and organizer. She is an enthusiastic proponent of the arts and civic engagement as some of the best tools available to develop local and statewide viability and economic success. She is also a certified coach and advocates the benefits to the world when people are valued and encouraged to rise to their highest potential and purpose. Daughters Ariel and Stacey, both Lakewood High School graduates, have made Rep. Antonio and wife Jean Kosmac very proud as the girls engage in their post-secondary pursuits.