Toledo city council expands hate crimes ordinance to include gender identity

TOLEDO, Ohio — The Toledo city council on Tuesday voted unanimously to strengthen the city’s hate crime statute to protect transgender individuals.

The Toledo Blade reports the council voted 12-0 to add gender identity to the city ordinance in the wake of a brutal beating and robbery last month of a transgender woman.

The victim, Candice Rose Milligan, struggled to speak Tuesday to council since she had her jaw wired shut because of a broken mandible.

Milligan, a well-known transgender activist in the Toledo community, said she was pleased council had passed the tougher law and hopes to encourage a statewide change.

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Currently, a bill is pending in the state legislature that would expand Ohio’s hate crime law to include crimes committed against people because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or disabilities.

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Councilman Jack Ford, who sponsored the Toledo legislation, said he wants the attack to be investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice and called for the those responsible to be prosecuted under federal hate crime laws.

Christopher Temple, 20, has been arrested in connection with the attack and charged with robbery to inflict, attempt to inflict, or threaten serious physical harm on another.

The Toledo ordinance already includes protections on the basis of sexual orientation.