Republicans from Ohio re -introduced a bill prohibiting Drag performances in places outside “spaces for cabaret adults”.
Now called “the indecent act on the modernization of exposure”, HB 249 It is sponsored by rep. Angela King (R-Clina) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.) And co-consisting by 42 other Republican representatives.
The Act would prohibit people “recklessly [engaging] In the performance of an adult cabaret in a place other than an adult cabaret ”, spaces that regularly present people who appear in a state of nudity or seminuda.
The definition of “appearance in a cabaret for adults” includes “performers or artists who show gender identity, which differs from the biological sex of the performer or artist, using clothing, makeup, prosthetic or imitative genititation or breast or other physical markers.”
HB 249 would impose penalties, including:
- First degree offense if the performance takes place in the presence of a minor.
- The fifth degree crime if the performance is “obscene”.
- The fourth degree crime, if the performance is “obscene” and are minors under 13 years of age.
A key element of this legislation are the words “harmful to minors” and “obscene”, a highly subjective sentence defined in the changed code Ohio As “clearly offensive to the dominant standards in the adult community as a whole in relation to what is suitable for minors”, “Appeal[ing] To the hungry interest in juvenile sex “or” devoid of serious literary, artistic, political and scientific value for minors. “
“I am deeply involved in the protection of our children,” King said in a statement. “As a mother and legislator, I believe that Ohio families should feel safe taking their children to the city park without the risk of meeting or a person appearing in a way that includes topics, paintings and actions intended for a mature audience.”
King has a documented history of using the anti-LGBTQ+ language in accordance with Christian nationalism and appeared together with the Neo-Nazi group in 2023, during the protest, protesting to the pride of his own community in Cellin in Ohio.
“We see trends of indecent exposure and excessively sexual performances that take place publicly in the presence of children,” said Williams in a statement. “The representative king and me and many other Ohioans do not agree with those deeds that take place in open space.”
Williams also has a documented history of using the anti-LGBTQ+ language and is currently a co-founder of the draft act of prohibiting schools to utilize “transgender names or pronouns” in order to address students.
Second time
Representatives of King and Williams proposed a similar bill in 2023, and then hoped HB 245: “Taking adults of adult cabarets in locations other than adult cabarets.”
This act had two interrogations in Ohio House: the sponsor’s testimonies and the testimony of a supporter from the representative of Gays against Growers, a group of hatred after the southern law, which “Center Law Center”, which “”, which “”strengthens dehumanizing anti-trans rhetoric“But Republican legislators from Ohio did everything to praise. The third interrogation has never been planned, and the bill has died in the commission.
Many LGBTQ+ supporters spoke against HB 245, including Veranda L’i ni, dragging the Cleveland performer, who organized and hosted tens of hours of story. Her work in promoting reading and writing and distributing free books to children was threatened by candidates for the United States Senate, protested by pickets outside the city and was the target of Molotov cocktails, which were thrown in the church where it took place.
She emphasized the destructive effect that such a ban would have on both drag contractors and the theater community.
“This prohibition of dragging will not only affect performers, but will expose theaters and other creative spaces to unfair persecution and absurd violations,” said L’i. “This is an attack on the first correction at the root. My freedom of speech and expressing myself on the line, just like my ability to earn.”
HB 249 was introduced on Tuesday and has not yet been assigned to the committee. Ding
Light
- Buckeye Flame’s Ohio LGBTQ+ Legislation guide for 2025-26 can be found here.
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