Protest to be held against Ohio’s ‘drag ban’…in the hometown of the representative who proposed it

On Saturday, September 2, Ohioans will gather at the Mercer County Courthouse in Celina to protest HB 245, a bill that would ban drag performances in locations other than “adult cabaret.”

The setting of the protest in rural west-central Ohio is intentional: Mercer County is the home to Rep. Angela King (R-Celina), one of the primary sponsors of HB 245.

In recent months, King has garnered headlines for proposing this bill and showing up to protest a local Pride celebration in her community, standing only a few feet away from — and on the same side of the protest with — the Aryan Freedom Network.

Now, a group of King’s constituents want her to hear those voices of dissent against what they call “bigoted legislation” from their representative who is taking her “animus against the LGBTQ community statewide.”

“We aren’t just going to protest at the Statehouse, where these representatives slip away, go back to their districts and hide from scrutiny,” said Arienne Childrey, director of Northwest Ohio Trans Advocacy, one of the organizers of the protest.  “When they take their bigotry statewide, we’re going to take our peaceful protest local…to their hometown.”

Childrey notes that Ohio’s rural communities can serve as testing grounds for anti-LGBTQ+ bills, causing rural LGBTQ+ Ohioans to struggle under legislators who don’t represent their interests or lived existence.

“This protest is about speaking out and letting these representatives know that we won’t be silenced, we won’t be erased and we won’t be going back into any closets,” Childrey said.

Local LGBTQ+ advocates hope that Ohioans from all of the state show up to lend their voices to the protest.

“This is a chance for activists statewide to let rural LGBTQ+ Ohioans know they aren’t alone, we are one big community and we’re going to support one another,” Childrey said.

Attendees are encouraged to attend with signs, pride and to come dressed in drag if they so desire. There will also be open slots for speakers. 🔥

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IGNITE ACTION

• “Protest the Ohio Drag Ban” will be held on Saturday, September 2 from 2-4pm at the Mercer County Courthouse (101 N. Main Street, Celina). Visit their Facebook event page for more details.