At a time when so many transgender Ohioans are fighting for their survival against a legislature that seems hellbent on limiting their life experiences, a handful of transgender Ohioans are fighting to make a difference by actually getting elected Down this very legislator.
One of those brave Ohioans is Bobbie Brooke Arnold: a single mother, independent contractor and candidate for the Ohio House of Representatives in the 40th District, which includes parts of northern Montgomery and Butler counties and all of Preble County.
Arnold is one of four transgender candidates who will run for the Ohio House of Representatives this election campaign, and one of only three who have been cleared to vote. 42-year-old in January Vanessa Joy was disqualified from running for a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives after failing to list her previous legal name on official election documents, even though there was not even a place to write her name.
Arnold’s candidacy has gained particular attention thanks to two fresh and competing bills in the Legislature that focus on trans candidates:
- A Democrat-sponsored bill would grant an exemption to transgender candidates who legally change their name, similar to the current exemption for people who change their name through marriage.
- A Republican-sponsored bill to enhance the frequency of Ohioans questioning the legality of transgender candidates.
“It’s rather surreal that our Legislature is basically at war over the three of us that are impacted by this bill,” Arnold said.
Buckeye Flame spoke with Arnold about her candidacy and the legislation that would both aid and hinder other transgender candidates. To listen, click the play button directly below or read our (edited) conversation at the audio link.
Why public service and why now?
Arnold: Well, my life has always been about giving back to people who were less fortunate than me, fighting for the underprivileged.
In my compact town, for the past nine years since I came out, I have been an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and the trans community: interacting with churches, local community leaders, and really opening their eyes to the LGBTQ+ experience as a whole. For the last few years I have been involved with PFLAG Dayton and I participated in the work of the state authorities on the entire legislative process.
I feel like I’m in a place where I can make a difference. I am recognized in my local community, and my visibility can really make a difference at the statehouse, just as it does in my compact town.
Tell us about the 40th district. I read that over 75 percent of this population identifies as Republican?
In fact, 65 percent of my district is undecided. 75.1 percent tend to lean Republican. There are many people in the middle who are easily swayed when presented with the facts.
I’ve met so many people over the last nine years that, once you sit down and have a good conversation with them about the trans experience, it really opens their eyes. I saw a lithe bulb go off in their head and they said, “A-ha! I see. You are a woman. Now I understand.” That’s really what we’re fighting against in rural Ohio: misinformation and the fact that there’s nothing to correct it and counterbalance it and tell people that we’re not the threat that Republicans say we are.
Your candidacy was questioned at one point due to a decades-old law that requires a name that doesn’t even appear on the forms. What I found most intriguing was that your opponent, Rodney Creech, initially supported your candidacy and said, “Yes, she should be able to run.” And now Representative Creech is one of the co-sponsors of legislation that would enhance the challenges facing transgender candidates. But I take it you actually know each other?
This is correct. We go all the way back to the primary school. He was only a few years older than me.
How was it that your candidacy was questioned in this way?
Actually, no one protested against mine. After Vanessa Joy’s certificate was rejected, reporters called my Board of Elections and began inquiring about the status of my certificate. And then they decided they would just review them. So in my case there was no protest.
We have fresh legislation: Democratic legislation to aid transgender candidates, and Republican legislation to enhance the challenges facing those candidates. What is it like to be a candidate when these two bills exist now?
It’s rather surreal to see our Legislature essentially at war over the three of us impacted by this bill. I think this is a really straightforward solution. The electoral commission found that it was impossible to deceive the people who signed our petitions.
There’s no reason not to do it [exclusion]. It’s already [exclusion] for marriage. As a transgender person, the process of changing your name is much more thorough. It’s more steep. And it happens in front of a judge. We must disclose our criminal history and financial history. We must prove that we have a valid reason to change the name. Except for marriage, you don’t have to go through all of these processes. The courts don’t check you. You can simply change your name and it doesn’t involve any additional liability.
What do you hope to accomplish in the Ohio House of Representatives?
Well, first of all, I would like to put an end to all this anti-transgender and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. We know it’s just rhetoric. This is nonsense, religious hatred that is spreading throughout our country and other countries.
But there are so many things Ohioans can’t do without [Republicans] they focus on trans bodies and trans identities. Property taxes are going up. Choice takes millions of dollars away from our education system. The workforce is weakened. There are many real issues on the table that Republicans are simply not addressing. 🔥
IGNITE ACTION
- To learn more about Bobbie Brooke Arnold’s campaign for Ohio’s 40th District, visit her Facebook page.
- To register to vote or check your eligibility to vote in Ohio, click here.
