Last year, around 500 university staff, students and community members packed into campus to watch the University of Findlay’s annual drag show. But the students who run the event at the private Christian university are worried that, after over a decade of performances, their event could be outlawed at the state level.
Ohio’s House Republicans have been moving forward with a bill that would ban public drag or gender performances outside of“adult cabaret” venues. Though college students are generally over 18, the Ohio Revised Code defines “adult caberet” as “a nightclub, bar, juice bar, restaurant, bottle club, or similar commercial establishment, whether or not alcoholic beverages are served” that “regularly features” nudity, exposure of “specified anatomical areas” and presentations of sexual activity. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Angie King (R-Celina) and Rep. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.), received proponent testimony last October but is yet to be scheduled for another hearing with opposing testimony.
Karsyn Gillen, one of the student co-organizers and vice president of United, the college’s LGBTQ+ club, is worried how the proposed law could affect their university. If the legislature passes the bill this session, this year could be the students’ last drag show.
If the worst does happen, Gillen said, the club hopes to rebrand the event as a horror costume show.
“We’re not scared about it ‘cause we’ll find a way, but [it’s] a little disheartening,” Gillen said.
Co-organizer and United president Cruz Richard said canceling the drag show could imperil their club.
“This is a huge event and it is a lot of our funding, so if they take away our drag show, not only would they take away and erase our community, they would erase our club in turn,” Richard said. “We have student performers every year, and I think it’s very important that we afford that opportunity for our queer community because it really gives an outlet for our members to explore their gender expression … where it’s safe and away from their parents.”
Both student organizers come from conservative rural areas. Richard moved 800 miles from his hometown in rural Louisiana to attend UF, while Gillen moved from a conservative town in Ohio only an hour away.
“I was very, very happy to learn about United and that I would be able to be a part of this club because we didn’t have that kind of thing back in my hometown,” Gillen said. “It makes me actually want to be on campus.”
For LGBTQ+ students on campus, the event might be the only safe and affirming space they can make the time for, Gillen said. Club meetings are usually at 9 p.m., but the drag show allows for queer students to get involved in ways that fit their schedule.
“They are excited to have an event or like multiple events that we put on [where] they can still engage with the queer community even if they aren’t able to go to our regular meetings,” Gillen said.
The annual drag show originated from an event called Night of Divas in 2013, Richard said. It has expanded over the years, and it has a regular community presence. It is mostly funded by the college’s Student Government Association, which the university grants funds to and student leaders then appropriate the dollars towards different clubs.
Throughout the club’s existence, UF’s President Katherine Fell, who is retiring at the end of this school year, has supported United and sought to understand the LGBTQ+ community.
“She has had lots of meetings with our club in the past to understand really what is drag, what is gender expression and why it’s important,” Richard said. “It’s very nice to have someone who is accepting, willing to learn and [to] give us these funds when they can go elsewhere to maybe ministry work or something like that.”
The wider Findlay community has also shown support for the drag show, he said.
“One of my instructors came up to me this morning saying that our [department head] was looking forward to seeing the drag show and he would also love to come out,” Richard recalled.“I even saw a lot of [church] members enjoying themselves and having fun [last year].”
A University of Findlay spokesperson did not respond to questions from The Buckeye Flame about the future of students’ drag shows and whether trustees would seek a president who is supportive of LGBTQ+ students..
The show, “Majestic’s Nightmare on Main Street,” starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 13, in the Alumni Memorial Union, 164 Frazer St. in Findlay. Tickets are $5 for non-students, $1 for non-UF students and free for current UF students. Catering will be provided and T-shirts are offered for free to UF students that attend. This year, the GSA will donate half of the proceeds to Ohio Equal Rights.
Editor’s Note: The article was corrected to clarify that T-shirts are free for UF students that attend the drag show.
IGNITE ACTION
- More information about “Majestic’s Nightmare on Main Street” can be found on United’s Facebook page here.
- To learn more about LGBTQ+ bills in Ohio, read The Buckeye Flame’s guide on 2025-2026 legislation 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
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