A Cleveland transgender woman, on Sept. 1, filed a federal lawsuit against city officials, alleging that she was subjected to harassment and physical violence while she was the resident of a Cleveland public housing building. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Ohio.
According to her complaint, Kayla Jane alleges that she suffered repeated harassment from a building manager in the apartment building she moved into in December 2015. That manager allegedly referred to Jane repeatedly as "lady boy," "faggot," "trannie," dick girl," "T-girl," "hormone titty" and numerous other anti-trans insults. The manager also instructed other residents to refer to her in such a manner, according to the allegations.
Jane further alleges that the manager also publicly revealed that she was trans and refused to change gender markers on her official documentation. The manager also instigated proceedings to evict Jane, but those efforts failed.
Jane further said that, in June 2016, a supposed friend in the building invited her to the beach. Upon their return to the building, Jane was ambushed and attacked by a number of residents, resulting in a three-day hospital stay. Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority ( CMHA ) Police, however, cited Jane with a number of violations. The complaint alleges that the citation was "with purpose to hinder the discovery, apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of another for a crime or to assist another to benefit from the commission of the crime of Felonious Assault." It further said that "discrimination against transgender people is systemic within CMHA, Cuyahoga County, and the City of Cleveland."
Jane is asking for general and special damages, including pain and suffering and emotional harm, in an amount in excess of $25,000.00; punitive damages; court costs; and pre- and post-judgment interest.