Minutes before a key City Council meeting today on funding expansion of the Albert B. Sabin Cincinnati Convention Center, the gay rights group Stonewall Cincinnati plans a downtown rally to highlight its call for conventions to boycott the city.

        The activists have called for the boycott until the city charter amendment, Article XII, is repealed.

        But today, they'll be joined on convention center steps by members of the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati, a group of black clergy and others who also are calling for a boycott of Cincinnati in the wake of last April's civil unrest.

        Both groups want convention-goers, entertainers and other potential visitors to boycott Cincinnati until city officials agree to certain demands.

        “We don't agree on everything,” Stonewall co-chair Heidi Bruins said Sunday, referring to some coalition members' stand against homosexuality.

        “But we stand in solidarity with the coalition on issues of economic, racial and overall justice, regardless of sexual orientation,” she said.

        Article XII was passed in 1993. City voters barred Cincinnati from providing “preferential treatment” to gays, lesbians or bisexuals.

        Members of the coalition — which claimed its biggest victory last week when comedian Bill Cosby canceled two performances here next month — could not be reached for comment Sunday.

        But Ms. Bruins said members of both organizations met Sunday to iron out last-minute details of a 12:30 p.m press conference today.

        At 1 p.m., Cincinnati City Council will hold a joint meeting of its finance and community development committees to discuss funding for the convention center expansion.

        Despite Stonewall's efforts, organizers of what could be the largest gay and lesbian convention in Cincinnati announced last week that they will come to the city in July for a weeklong concert festival.

        The 2002 GALA Choruses Eastern Regional Festival, “Sing! Cinnati,” is expected to attract more than 1,200 delegates representing 40 choruses to the Aronoff Center for the Arts July 3-7.

        Festival planners are aware that various local groups have requested that conventions not come to Cincinnati.

        But, they say, the same issues that led to calls for a boycott are the same reasons the choruses will honor their commitment to perform.

        “We are living in the belly of the monster and the climate in Cincinnati is ripe for change,” said Catherine Roma, founder and director of Muse: Cincinnati Women's Choir and Cincinnati Men's Chorus. “We have the opportunity to be change agents, to inspire, to motivate, and to sing for justice.” The Cincinnati groups are hosting Sing! Cinnati.

        In addition to the concerts at the Aronoff, festival planners are also organizing free concerts to be given throughout the downtown area, “focusing on those most affected by the April unrest.”

        Festival organizers will also try to match visiting choruses with local charities to provide an outlet for community outreach and support.

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