Opinion Page

So. Its finally come to this. Last week ( in Laramie, Wyo.), a 21-year old college student was lured from a bar, set on fire, beaten with a pistol until his skull was crushed beyond repair, was set on fire and was left comatose, tied to a fence for a day and a half until he was found by a passerby who, at first, mistook him for a scarecrow.

His assailants, who targeted him because of his sexual orientation, are now in jail for first degree murder. So, is this young victim a statistic? No. This young man was a student earning a degree in social work. His name was Matthew Shepard.

Matthew Shepard, who spoke four languages and loved theatre arts but was also very nervous, according to close friends, about being perceived as gay, as he headed to college in Wyoming.

How ironic that the US Supreme Court ruled that Cincinnati can enforce discrimination against its citizens ( the affirmation of Issue 3) in the wake of this terrible murder. Stonewall Cincinnati, the League of Women Voters and the Teachers'' Federation will be circulating petitions to get an issue on the ballot that would help end such discrimination in Cincinnati. I urge all Cincinnatians to sign the petition.

Matthew's parents should not be preparing for his funeral. Matthew should be studying for his midterm exams right now.