GAY PEOPLE'S

Chronicle

Ohio's Newspaper for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com

Volume 27, Issue 17 February 10, 2012

ASIANS AND FRIENDS CLEVELAND

'F-s don't get to wear pants to jail'

Couple sues Cleveland police over beatings and two unneeded arrests

by Anthony Glassman

Cleveland-Two gay men are suing the city of Cleveland and 27 police officers after being assaulted, humiliated and targeted with anti-gay epithets on two separate occasions last April, including being taken to Cuyahoga County Jail without being allowed to put on pants.

Officers with a SWAT or warrant team that burst into their apartment house told them, "Faggots don't get to wear pants to jail," according to the complaint.

ing for him. According to the suit a man who lived nearby came barreling towards Simcox, saying, "Shut up, you faggot. This is my block."

The neighbor, who none of the three knew was an off-duty Cleveland police officer, is around six feet tall and 220 lbs. Simcox weighs 130 lbs.

Simcox told the larger man that they were in front of his and Ondo's home, and to leave the property. He refused. Komes had already gone to the front porch of the house. Simcox tried to follow her, but the neighbor allegedly blocked his way. When Simcox tried to push him out of his way, the larger man punched him, then grabbed him and dragged him across the drivenway, where Simcox cut his hand badly.

Steven Ondo and Jonathan Simcox filed a federal civil rights suit on January 18 which cites "excessive force and undisguised prejudice inflicted upon two gay men."

They were walking home from Johnny Malloy's at West 117th Street and Clifton Blvd, with their friend Brittany Komes on April 2, 2011 when they got into an argument over a text Simcox sent to a friend. Ondo went to sit on their landlord's back porch, a few doors from their apartment on the third floor of a house. Komes and Simcox went on to the house, only to realize that Ondo had the keys.

They did not know where he had gone, so Simcox started call-

Ondo heard Simcox calling for help and came to his aid, but was

pinned to the ground by the larger

man. When Komes tried to intervene, the neighbor pinned her arm behind her back.

At this point, Ondo and Simcox's other neighbors came out, and seeing them being man-

Continued on page 10

Year of the Dragon

Over a hundred people representing 15 community organizations and private citizens turned out to celebrate the Year of the Dragon at Asians and Friends Cleveland's 17th annual Lunar New Year banquet.

Representatives of groups ranging from the Cleveland, LGBT Center to the MetroHealth Pride Clinic, from the North Coast Men's Chorus to Alpha Omega, were in attendance for a night of entertainment and a sumptuous ten-course meal at a new venue, the East 30th Street Café in the heart of Chinatown.

As is the custom, Asians and Friends Cleveland gave a New Year's gift in a red envelope to one community organization. This year, the lysee went to GLSEN Northeast Ohio for their work on safer schools and anti-bullying efforts.

-Anthony Glassman

Four youths charged in Cincinnati gets ready to pass city worker partner benefits

beating at rapid stop

by Eric Resnick

Cleveland--Four juveniles have been charged in the robbery and beating of a transgender woman in November. The charges were filed January 6. The names of juveniles are not released. A possible adult suspect has not yet been identified.

The victim, Alexis Alison Lancaster, 39, was attacked at the RTA Red Line station at Madison Ave. and West 65th Street. She was called "dyke" and other derogatory names and verbally harassed

when she got off the train at 11 pm on November 19. Ironically, the attack happened one day after the Transgender Day of Remembrance was commemorated at the LGBT Center a few blocks away.

The suspects hit and kicked Lancaster, knocking her unconscious and badly bruised.

"I was kicked in the ass until it bled," said Lancaster, who was transported to Metro Health for treatment after an unknown man Continued on page 10

by Eric Resnick

Cincinnati-When Chris Seelbach ran for Cincinnati council last year, a platform plank was to make the city more inclusive, more fair, and increase benefits to everyone. Voters responded by overwhelmingly electing

Seelbach, making him the first openly gay Cincinnati official.

Seelbach's first legislative initiative would establish health and pension benefits for unmarried partners of city employees, samesex and opposite sex.

The measure passed its first reading 8-1 on January 11, Seelbach's second council meeting. It also has the support of Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory.

The only opponent was councilor Charlie Winburn, a longtime foe of LGBT equality.

Winburn, as pastor of the nondenominational Church in College Hill, was a leader of the 1993 campaign to pass Article 12, which banned any gay and lesbian civil rights ordinance. It remained in

Inside This Issue

Washington marriage bill is

headed for passage

The Lily

Page 2

Page 6

News Briefs.......

Charlie's Calendar

the city charter until 2004, when Seelbach helped lead a successful repeal campaign.

Winburn has been on and off council. Anti-gay themes have always been centerpieces of his council campaigns. He told Cincinnati residents in 2001 that adding sexual orientation to non-discrimination laws would protect necrophiliacs and make it difficult to prosecute pedophiles.

Resource Directory........

Classifieds......

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