Cleveland Gay Couple Claims Police Officers Beat, Humiliated And Denied Them Pants Due To Sexual Orientation

Considering I am an Ohioian, a former Clevelander and a gay man this is VERY disturbing!!  An Ohio-based gay couple has alleged they were subjected to horrific abuse by Cleveland police officers, including being denied pants, because of their sexual orientation.

Fox 8 News reports that Jonathan Simcox and his partner Steven Ondo are claiming they were subjected to "excessive force and undisguised prejudice" in April of last year, after an off-duty Cleveland police officer confronted them when they were in the midst of an argument.

As Towleroad, Queerty and other outlets are reporting, Simcox told the site, "He came out over shouting, saying, 'Shut up, you`re disturbing the peace.' I pushed to get past him, as soon as I did that he knocked me on the ground, and just started beating me, hitting me, standing over top of me, and punching me repeatedly."
Though no charges were initially filed, the couple were awoken at their home a week later by "six or seven members of the SWAT/and or Warrant team," who hauled them off to jail in their underwear on charges of assaulting a police officer. Once in jail, Simcox claims they were called "faggots" by officers, who did not permit them to get dressed because "faggots don't deserve to wear pants in jail."

Simcox and Ondo have since filed a federal lawsuit against several officers in light of the incidents

Cuyahoga County gives $100,000 to former worker, settling sexual-orientation bias case

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A former Cuyahoga County employee won a $100,000 in the settlement of a sexual-orientation bias case.

Shari Hutchinson, a lesbian who worked for nearly eight years at the county's child support enforcement agency, sued the county in 2008 and claimed she was denied promotions because she was openly gay. She also claimed administrators retaliated against her when she complained.

Hutchinson and her lawyers announced the settlement Wednesday at a news conference at the City Club of Cleveland.

She said she was content with the settlement because it means she stood up for her rights. "I've seen a lot of discrimination and I'm afraid that other people could lose their jobs," said Hutchinson, 52.

Cuyahoga County Law Director Majeed Makhlouf declined to comment on the case.
"The settlement speaks for itself," Makhlouf said.

Hutchinson said she applied for more than 25 job promotions during her tenure at the county agency, but all were denied. She said county administrators passed her over for higher-paying positions and instead promoted or hired less qualified, straight workers.

In an effort to prevent a promotion, a supervisor told his boss that Hutchinson "writes for a 'lesbian porn magazine' and her license plate, PACK8, has her lesbian 'pen name,' " according to the lawsuit.

The county had fought Hutchinson, arguing that gays and lesbians do not fall under the Equal Protection Law of the U.S. Constitution.

But U.S. District Judge James Gwin of the Northern District of Ohio rejected the county's argument in late April.

In his decision to allow the case to move forward, Gwin criticized the county for arguing that "all of Hutchinson's claims must fail because sexual orientation is not a protected class, and thus does not merit the constitutional protection, under the Equal Protection Clause, that Hutchinson seeks."

After an effort by the county to have evidence dismissed, Gwin ruled in late September that the case should be heard by a jury. Days after this ruling, county attorneys began negotiating the settlement.

Hutchinson, who continued to work during the litigation, is currently unemployed. As part of the settlement, Hutchinson said, she is not allowed to work at any county department except for judicial offices.

Valerie Mayan: Pop Up Shop Visit

Well today was my second visit with Project Runway Star Valerie Mayan.  She is currently hosting a "pop up shop" in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland.  Valerie had invited me to the pop up shop when I met here at her pop up shop at Playhouse Square.  The shop was part of Friday's Art Walk in Tremont.  The art walk is featured monthly in the neighborhood, so check listings if you would like to attend.

The idea for the pop shop's came after Valerie's tenure on Project Runway because everyone was asking her where her store was.  Needless to say as a small business Valerie does not currently have the funds or stock to keep a store front full time.  I learned today "Yellowcake" which is her label name is a ONE woman operation.  She has some help at times setting up or taking down the pop up shops but it is not always a given.  There is NO paid employees currently. The pop up shops are "Our opportunity to introduce ourselves and our products to the community."  This shop was the fourth time doing it with the first being in Beachwood at Christmas time.


Last summer Valerie was fortunate enough to have fifteen college fashion design interns who helped with some things but NEVER cutting or sewing Yellowcake clothing.  She stated "that the standard in her opinion is that the designer you are buying from should do 98% of the work you buy."  I have to agree with her on that one.  It of course takes a lot of time and energy to give all those interns and she says "a lot of how it all works out is how badly they want to be there, how much they are willing to learn, as well as work and dedication like any other job anywhere else. It has been a pleasure having them." 

She calls her company a High Quality one "that is in it's toddler phase, who knows how to run but things like using a knife and fork is still being learned."  I liked the analogy the minute she said it in reference to the amount of work it takes to run a small business. She is  very thankful to the many Clevelander's who do support her business and she is also thankful to all the charity work she has done which has picked up since her exposure on Project Runway which in many ways brought credibility and visibility to her company which was opened a year to a year and a half  before the show. 

This came up when I got to talking to her about the "Made In America" series with Diane Sawyer and that how if the average American spent only four dollars a day on products made in America we could create at the least a thousand new jobs.  Valerie was intrigued by the idea but felt "that we had to have products that were above competitive to everything else on the market because with the economy the way it is we as Americans are currently under money strains to a degree and have to carefully pick and choose how we spend our money."  Again I had to agree.

Valerie is currently looking for investors, donors and sponsors so she could develop the Yellowcake label, because despite what some would consider "popular belief" contestants are not paid to be on Project Runway, that the only money dolled out is what you saw last season.

Upcoming pop up shops are in the works for the Ohio City area and Detroit Shoreway area.  Currently though you can catch Valerie March 18th from 11- 10, March 19th 11-10 and March 20th 11-4 in Tremont at 2406  Professor Avenue.

Thanks again Valerie for such a wonderful, fun, entertaining and edcuational experience you have been absolutely wonderful.  By the way every purchase made with Yellowcake 5%  of the purchase goes to support the Cleveland City Mission.

An Enchanted Evening with Valerie Mayen

Well tonight We had tickets to see "South Pacific" which if you have the chance tomorrow go see it.  It is there last night at Cleveland Playhouse.  Anyway the main parking garage was full so we parked our car in front of Playhouse Square and while walking across the street was a sign in a formerly empty space were "Yellowcake" signs, I looked through the windows and who was standing behind the counter none other than Season Eight Project Runway Superstar VALERIE MAYEN!

Needless to say, celebrity fan that I am made a made dash leaving Jim nearly at the curb.  In the door to the counter and probably made a complete fool of myself.  But Valerie was EVER so charming, sweet, delightful and fun to be around.  Of course dizzy queen that I can be at times had no camera so Ms. Mayen grabbed what I believe to be a IPhone and offered to take a picture with me and e-mail it to me---EECCKKKK!  I was stunned. We talked a little about my blog and she actually went onto my blog with me standing there on what I believe to be the IPad.  Talk about me being speechless.  Her here in this spce, looking and briefly reading, a dream come true.

We chatted some more and while I don't want to tip my cards completely I will say you will see more of Ms. Mayen here VERY SOON.  I want to keep you all in some suspense .  She has an upcoming event at the Tremont Art Walk  which will be held March 11- 12

the address for the pop up shop is according to her

2406 Professor Street
Cleveland, Ohio (Tremont Neighorhood)

So my advice for all of you who can, GO and support Valerie Mayan get a chance to meet her, you will JUST ADORE her.  I know I do.  Thanks Valerie for making my evening truly and utterly enchanted.

NEW SEASON Project Runway!

If you read this blog regularly, and if you know me real well, You know three things I LOVE Judy Garland, I adore the Wizard of Oz and I am just crazy when it comes to Project Runway.  It maybe the clothes, it maybe the deisgners or those creative challenges, it maybe cutie patootie, make my knees weak and cause me to swoon Tim Gunn, it maybe the glamorous and ever chic uber FIERCE Heidi Klum but golly I love this show.  One of two thing I never miss on TV.

I guess I let the cat of the bag, that I have a secret crush on Gunn but golly is he adorable or what!?  I mean handsome, smart, educated, well versed, well dressed, into fashion in an enormous way--what wouldn't you love   OK I know enough gushing, after all I have Jim.

It is a New Season. New Time.

The Emmy Award-nominated series "Project Runway" kicks off its eighth season with 17 talented designers - the most in the series' history - beginning Thursday, July 29, at 9 pm et/pt. Supersized to a new 90-minute format, "Runway" will follow the designers as they compete to make the cut to show at New York Fashion Week at Lincoln Center. Get to know the newest designers now with exclusive video tours of their homes, a peek into their closets, casting tapes and much more. Flip through their personal photos and Designer Portfolios for a look at the past work that earned them a spot on the show over hundreds of other hopefuls across the country. Meet the 17 new designers right away.

http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway

What makes this season right now extra nice is that there is a contestant from Cleveland, Ohio!  To bad it ain't yours truely but hey there is always next year.  Anyway it should prove to be a great season and who knows I may even do show recap posts with my point of view thrown in.