537.24 INTIMIDATION IN CONNECTION WITH HOUSING.
   (a)    No person, whether or not acting under color of law, shall, by force or threat of force, willfully injure, intimidate or interfere with, or attempt to injure, intimidate or interfere with any of the following:
      (1)    Any person because of race, color, religion, sex, military status, familial status as defined in Ohio R.C. 4112.01, national origin, disability, ancestry, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression and because that person is or has been selling, purchasing, renting, financing, occupying, contracting or negotiating for the sale, purchase, rental, financing or occupation of any housing accommodations, or applying for or participating in any service, organization or facility relating to the business of selling or renting housing accommodations;
      (2)    Any person because that person is or has been, or in order to intimidate that person or any other person or any class of persons from doing either of the following:
         A.    Participating, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, familial status as defined in Ohio R.C. 4112.01, national origin, disability as defined in that section, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression in any of the activities, services, organizations or facilities described in paragraph (a)(1) hereof;
         B.    Affording another person or class of people opportunity or protection so to participate.
      (3)   Any person because that person is or has been, or in order to discourage that person or any other person from, lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, as defined in Ohio R.C. 4112.01, national origin, disability , as defined in that section, ancestry, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression in any of the activities, services, organizations or facilities described in paragraph (a)(1) hereof, or participating lawfully in speech or peaceful assembly opposing any denial of the opportunity to so participate.
   (b)    As used in this section, the term “gender identity or expression” shall have the same meaning as is set forth in Section 157.01(i) of these codified ordinances.
   (c)    As used in this Section, the term “sexual orientation” shall have the same meaning as is set forth in Section 157.01(j) of these codified ordinances.
   (d)    Whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, provided such person does not cause bodily injury or death in connection with such violation.
(Ord. 17-50 AC CMS. Passed 10-16-17.)