John Faherty

jfaherty@enquirer.com

Pigs have not yet flown, but really, what is left to happen? Ten years after the repeal of Article XII – a charter amendment widely considered perhaps the most anti-gay in the country – the city of Cincinnati will today receive the highest score possible for inclusion by the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization.

"It's remarkable," said Chris Seelbach, the city's first openly gay councilman. "We have come so far. I never believed it could happen in 10 years."

The 2014 Municipal Equality Index measured 353 municipalities, including the 200 most populous cities in the country. Among them, only 38 had "perfect" scores of 100. The average city score was 59 points. Last year Cincinnati scored 90.

Cincinnati's transformation is considered so remarkable the Human Rights Campaign will announce the result of the national study here this morning at Memorial Hall.

Cathryn Oakley of the Human Rights Campaign said the fact that this city is now known as inclusive and just within the gay community is nothing short of astounding. "I think it's amazing," Oakley, the study's author said from her office in Washington. "It showcases that this city has done the hard work."

Gene Beaupre a professor of philosophy, politics and the public at Xavier University, and a decades-long resident of Cincinnati, could not contain his surprise after hearing the score. "You're kidding me," Beaupre said.

The cultural or social changes in Cincinnati are even greater when compared to 25 years ago. In 1990, the Contemporary Arts Center and its director, Dennis Barrie, were charged with obscenity because of a photograph exhibition, "Robert Mapplethorpe: The Perfect Moment." Some of the photographs in the show were controversial and included explicit images of sadomasochism, bondage and homo-eroticism. The charges against the museum and director were believed to be the first ever arising from an exhibition.

Then, in 1993, city voters approved Article XII, which said: "No special class status may be granted based upon sexual orientation, conduct or relationships."

Advocates said it was only an effort to prevent gays from achieving "special rights." But the consequences were dire for both the city and some of its residents. "It was very damaging. That was a difficult time," Beaupre said.

Ron Clemons, a gay man, has lived here since 1976. He said the period after the adoption of Article XII was arduous. Some gays left the city, although the facts of that are more anecdotal than empirical.

"A lot of people did leave the city. They decided they couldn't live here anymore," Clemons, 60, said. "It was a real punch in the stomach."

People were afraid they could lose their jobs, be arrested or denied services by the city. "It never happened to me, but the fear was very real.

"You heard all the horror stories," Clemons said. "People did get fired, people did get harassed. It was not an easy time."

The city became known nationally for being conservative and strident. It did not matter if those characteristics were actual or imagined; the perception was real. People felt uncomfortable and not welcome here.

Phil Burress, president of Citizens for Community Values, says the city was a better place when Article XII was in place. "We were a conservative city, and we thrived," Burress said. "We have always tolerated homosexuals. They had equal rights; now they have special rights."

What is certain is that money stopped coming in. Conventions already booked with the city were canceled. Others likely to happen evaporated.

Cincinnati, largely a corporate town, also began to see that inclusion made more economic sense. Procter & Gamble and Federated Department Stores Inc. and other business leaders contributed money to help repeal Article XII. The real change, though, came with the voters, according to Beaupre, at least in part because Article XII rallied people in the community. In fact, the reframing of this city as being open and welcoming to gays may have begun with the passage of the law even more than with its eventual repeal.

"Movements progress faster, many times, when there is a villain," Beaupre said. "It galvanized people."

In 2004, 11 years after passage, a coalition of human rights and religious activists joined with corporations and community activists to help get out the vote to repeal Article XII. That was just the beginning. Now there is momentum.

Last month, two men became the city's first couple to sign up to use the city's domestic partner registry, which paves the way for companies to offer benefits to gay couples. Seelbach called it "one of the last pieces of the puzzle to bring full equality to the laws of Cincinnati."

In recent years the city started offering same-sex benefits to all city employees; the police department, fire department and mayor's office have liaison officers to the LGBT community.

City Council last year passed regulations that require anyone who contracts with the city to agree in writing to an inclusive, nondiscrimination policy. And the city's hate crimes law that included race and gender was expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. In September, the city included medically necessary transgender procedures to the city's health insurance policy.

All of these changes might be why a woman like Ashley Brazil, 27, has had such a good experience in Cincinnati. Brazil, a gay woman, moved to Cincinnati from California to go to graduate school at the University of Cincinnati and now works as a genetic counselor at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

"I had just come out when I moved here," Brazil said. "I had some hesitation." It turns out her apprehension was unfounded. "People have been very accepting."

She knows not everybody has had such an ideal experience. She knows there is work to be done, and she would very much like to be able to get married if that is ever her choice. "We would all love to see gay marriage legalized," Brazil said. "But I haven't experienced any negativity. I'm very thankful."

Brazil is home now. Earning a living, paying taxes, spending her income. She can also encourage other people in the LGBT to visit or stay here. This, said Oakley of the HRC, is the point.

"We would like to think these changes have happened because of justice and fairness and equality," Oakley said. "But inclusion also makes economic sense. I suspect it's a combination in Cincinnati." ■

Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index

When: 10 a..m. Wednesday, Nov. 12

Where: Memorial Hall's Gold Room, 1225 Elm St., at Elm and Grant streets.

Who: John Cranley, mayor of Cincinnati;

Chris Seelbach, Cincinnati City Council;

Paula Ison, activist for transgender rights and inclusion;

Yvette Simpson, Cincinnati City Council;

Fred Sainz, HRC's vice president for communications;

Elyzabeth Holford, Equality Ohio executive director