Ind. Man Donates $275K to Gay-Rights Coalition

An Indiana businessman whose son died of AIDS has given $275,000 to a coalition of groups supporting gay rights.

Otis Vincent, a marketing director at Trinity Mortgage in Fort Wayne, had pledged $200,000 to Indiana Equality, but then increased his largesse by $75,000, according to SouthBendTribune.com.

He has stated that the contribution was in memory of his son, Stephen, who was 30 when he died of AIDS in 1995. Through its Fairness 200 Campaign, the coalition hopes to raise $400,000 to campaign for changes to the state’s civil-rights law, FortWayne.com reported.

Vincent, 71, also led the effort for construction of the Northeast Indiana AIDS Memorial in Fort Wayne’s Lindenwood Cemetery.