Author

Ben Jodway

Ben Jodway (he/him) is a staff writer for The Buckeye Flame covering the LGBTQ+ community in rural Ohio. Hailing from Livonia, Michigan, he previously covered education for the Midland Daily News. While studying history at Central Michigan University, he worked part-time at WCMU Public Media as a student reporter covering attempts to remove LGBTQ+ literature from both public and school libraries. He reports for The Buckeye Flame as a Report for America corps member.

Ben's Latest Articles

Oberlin becomes 15th Ohio city to ban conversion therapy on minors

By Ben Jodway ● Policy/Legislation ● January 21, 2026

The college town passed the ordinance after some modifications reacting to a federal appeals court decision that struck down Michigan’s statewide ban

Girl Scouts hold boxes of cookies superimposed on a trans flag.

It’s Girl Scout cookie season! Here’s a list of Ohio trans and nonbinary Girl Scouts to support.

By Ben Jodway ● Transgender ● January 14, 2026

Not only does selling Girl Scout cookies boost confidence and help develop business skills, but it also help fund troop activities.

Sarah Brower and T. Gallo stand together in front of Harbor Gardens in Ashtabula, Ohio. T. Gallo has their arm around Sarah Brower.

Queer-owned farm-to-table businesses reclaim history in a former rural Ohio gay bar

By Ben Jodway ● Rural ● January 8, 2026

‘I just loved the energy from the moment I had seen [the space.]’

Oberlin advances conversion therapy ban, with hesitation

By Ben Jodway ● Policy/Legislation ● January 7, 2026

After a federal appeals court stopped Michigan’s ban, similar legislation in Ohio cities could be in jeopardy.

Yellow Springs, Ohio, passes resolution condemning conversion therapy, drafts nondiscrimination ordinance

By Ben Jodway ● Policy/Legislation ● December 23, 2025

The village formally condemned the discredited practice of conversion therapy, but did not ban its infliction on minors like other towns

Columbus suburb unanimously passes LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination protections

By Ben Jodway ● Community ● December 18, 2025

Grove City joins 36 other Ohio municipalities with LGBTQ+ protections amidst lack of statewide protections

Rural Ohio trans candidate nearly drops out of race after being targeted online, wins seat in Republican stronghold

By Ben Jodway ● Rural ● December 15, 2025

Amy Heutmaker pledges to heal political divide in her rural Ohio township

Gie May, while wearing a promotional t-shirt, poses in front of a wall with illustrations of a sun flower and butterfly.

An out nonbinary candidate just won a seat in their ruby-red Ohio town by 13 votes. They didn’t believe it, either.

By Ben Jodway ● Genderqueer/Nonbinary ● December 9, 2025

Gie May thought their race would help show Wadsworth that other candidates existed besides Republicans. Turns out, voters wanted more than that.

Human Rights Campaign scores 8 Ohio cities as LGBTQ+ ‘All-Star’ cities

By Ben Jodway ● Community ● November 18, 2025

Cleveland lost their perfect score, and Toledo dropped from an A to a B.

UPDATED: Majority of out LGBTQ+ Ohio candidates win in November 4 General Election

By Anna Malefatto (she/her), Ben Jodway, H.L. Comeriato & Ken Schneck ● Politics ● November 18, 2025

From Ada to Akron to, a host of LGBTQ+ candidates from all across the state emerged victorious in their races.