Two years ago, Wadsworth, Ohio, saw armed Nazis descend on a drag storytelling hour. Now, the small Medina County town will see its first out nonbinary candidate on the November ballot.
Angela “Gie” May is running for the Ward 4 seat on Wadsworth City Council. It’s their first run for office, but they have been a presence in the town’s politics for some time and have volunteered with multiple organizations such as Medina County Parks.
May described themselves as not just a problem-solver, but an example of how queer people bring a unique perspective and are just as capable as their straight counterparts.
“If they can see a queer person giving back to the community and being an active member, that will have an influence on them,” May said.
Becoming part of a community
Wadsworth was not the most welcoming environment when May first moved there in 2019, they said. Seeing all the Trump flags and “God and country” rhetoric made them prepare to move to Lakewood.
But as they prepared to move, May got involved in politics. They restarted the Wadsworth Democrats Club and began to feel a sense of community – and they stayed.
“It was the first time probably since high school that I had that group of people that felt like a community, that had people I could rely on,” May said.
May helped the organizer of the drag story hour and warned the organizer as discussions started to heat up. When the event started to lose support from the community and gain controversy, May backed away as people involved became uncomfortable by the incoming backlash.
But the controversy is not a good representation of Wadsworth’s neighborly community, they said. If someone posts online about needing new shoes, May said, 20 people will offer to drop a pair off at their door.
“We have that community feel of support and loving each other,” May said.
Bringing a different perspective
If elected, May wants to address the price of EV charging stations, implementing curbside recycling citywide, and creating infrastructure improvements like more crosswalks. Their queerness also brings a perspective that “is greatly lacking on the current council,” they said. For example, they said, every City Council meeting still starts with a prayer, which can make LGBTQ+ attendees feel uncomfortable due to religious trauma.
“Being plugged into the fears and the concerns the queer community has gives me a perspective that I don’t think anybody else on council has even thought about,” May said.
May has not begun their campaign just yet. They plan to march in the Blue Tip Parade, a parade referencing Wadsworth’s ties to the matchstick industry. There, they will wear a campaign shirt and hand out paraphernalia.
But May is hopeful that they will receive a positive response from the community. When the Wadsworth Democrats Club first marched in the Blue Tip Parade with progressive flags, there was a subtle, but real, response.
“I remember seeing someone crying,” May recalled. “Even though we got a little bit of pushback, there were a few people quietly in the corner giving us a thumbs up or quietly applauding because they don’t feel safe yet.”
May has met with Wadsworth Mayor Robin Laubaugh and their Republican opponent David Parish, both of whom applauded May’s commitment to the community, May said.
“I feel like there is a lot that could be done to make Wadsworth feel like a safe place,” May said. “Hopefully, I’m going to start to do that.” 🔥
IGNITE ACTION
- Angela “Gie” May’s campaign website can be found here.
- 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 senator, click here.
Know an LGBTQ+ Ohio story we should cover? TELL US!
Submit a story!
