The City of Chicago filed a motion Aug. 21 in U.S. District Court, which argues that since gays are not entitled to equal protection under federal law, a recent lawsuit against the City for an alleged anti-gay police beating should be dropped.
The City’s lawyers contend that Alexander Ruppert, who filed a federal complaint in June against the City and two police officers, wasn’t denied equal protection under the law because sexual orientation isn’t covered under the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection clause.
In March 2006, Ruppert was allegedly beaten and gay bashed by two Chicago police officers in Uptown.
The Civil Rights Center is representing Ruppert. His attorneys plan to fight the motion, and were granted an extension to argue against it. They return to court Sept. 11.
— Amy Wooten