On Feb. 27, more than 350 LGBTQ+ Ohioans – including some elected officials – gathered at Trinity Cathedral in downtown Cleveland to discuss community action in response to President Donald Trump’s far-reaching anti-LGBTQ+ executive orders.
Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio addressed a rapt crowd from a podium near the altar, along with LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland executive director Phyllis “Seven” Harris and longtime HIV/AIDS activist Gil Kudrin, who discussed the urgent need for direct action around federal funding for HIV/AIDS care and medications via the Ryan White CARE Act.
After running over the allotted time for the discussion, Harris informed audience members that the question-and-answer portion of the event would be rescheduled, with details announced at a later date.
With further attacks on LGBTQ+ civil rights looming, Harris emphasized the need for ongoing community dialogue.
‘It’s not about liking us.’
In 2024 alone, Republicans proposed 674 anti-transgender bills across the country – marking a 1,980% jump in anti-trans legislation since 2018.
Today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is currently tracking more than 450 bills they say would adversely affect or strip civil rights from LGBTQ+ Americans.
In Ohio, a handful of conservative Republicans have led the charge, partnering with a Columbus-based Christian lobbying group and out-of-state anti-transgender organizations to help bolster support for the legislation.
Additionally, Republicans have withdrawn support for a bill that would grant LGBTQ+ Ohioans equal civil rights. Formerly a bipartisan bill, Antonio has introduced some version of the Ohio Fairness Act 12 separate times in the hopes of it passing. This year, the bill has no Republican co-sponsors. In the Ohio House, its companion bill is also without a single Republican co-sponsor.
Both bills are expected to fail.
“I’ve been asked numerous times why in the hell I would introduce this bill during a time when, clearly, people don’t like us,” Antonio said. “It’s not about liking us. It’s about rights. It’s about civil rights.”
Cleveland officials tout ‘successes,’ outline
Out gay Cleveland city councilmember Kerry McCormack also addressed attendees, alongside the city’s volunteer LGBTQ+ liaison Kevin Schmotzer. Schmotzer performs liaison work without pay in addition to his duties in the city’sDepartment of Economic Development.
The duo shared at least six “successes” around LGBTQ+ policy at the municipal level, including the city’s 2022 ban on “conversion therapy” practices and its role as host to the 2014 Gay Games.
The pair also pointed to Cleveland’s perfect score via the Human Rights Campaign (HRC)’s annual Municipal Equality Index. However, HRC requires municipalities to self-report data in order to receive a score, which may affect the rating’s accuracy.
Community leaders urge action
Elizabeth Katavich, lead advocacy coordinator for the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland, spoke plainly about the unprecedented spike in anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-transgender rhetoric and policy at every level of government.
“Although these times seem unprecedented, this is part of a larger, tried-and-true strategy. These policies are designed to cultivate fear. They’re meant to divide us, overwhelm us and make it harder for us to live safely and authentically and within dignity,” Katavich said. “Ohio’s legislature – like many other states – has been on this path for a while.”
Dara Adkison – executive director of TransOhio – urged the crowd to “get creative” with efforts to pool money and other vital resources within LGBTQ+ communities across the state.
“We are going to see losses in funding at a federal level that affect people in housing, health care and food insecurity,” Adkison said. “There are so many programs that are deeply federally funded. We can be funding those programs from a local, municipal level.”
Adkison said TransOhio dispersed nearly $70,000 in mutual aid funds to LGBTQ+ Ohioans in 2024, largely through small-donation fundraising efforts like concerts, bake sales, art and T-shirt sales, read-a-thons, cycling sponsors and social media posts.
“There is a way for everyone to take action,” they added. “It may not look like being visible for everyone. It may look like whatever you like doing can offer a service that can help your community.”
‘They are coming for your life.’
Kudrin – director of development at Nightsweats & T-cells – was diagnosed with HIV in the early 1980s, years before antiviral medication was first approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1987. Since then, he has dedicated his life and career to advocating for LGBTQ+ Americans living with the virus.
More than 550,000 Americans living with HIV depend on federal funding via the Ryan White Act to access antiviral medications. Without consistent and affordable access to antiviral medication, they are at imminent risk of death.
When Kudrin revealed that he would expect to live just two years without proper access to medication, some audience members gasped – others visibly wept.
“They are not coming for your pronouns,” Kudrin said. “They are coming for your life.”
“This is not a joke. This is a call to action,” he added. “If you do not act up now, you will never have another chance.” 🔥
Ignite Action
- To learn more about Gil Kudrin’s life and work, click here.
- To learn more about the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland, click here.
- To learn more about TransOhio, click here.
- To access The Buckeye Flame’s full 2025-2026 Guide to Ohio’s LGBTQ+ Legislation, click here.
- If you are a young LGBTQ+ person in crisis, please contact the Trevor Project: 866-4-U-Trevor.
- If you are an transgender adult in need of immediate help, contact the National Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
- To register to vote or to check your voter eligibility status in the state of Ohio, click here.
- To find contact information for your Ohio state representative, click here.
- To find contact information for your Ohio state senator, click here.
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