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

Are you part of rural NW Ohio’s LGBTQ+ community? We want to hear from you!

By Ben Jodway ● Community ● June 23, 2026

A survey will help inform our coverage of LGBTQ+ rural Ohio in that corner of the state.

Community Foundation of Lorain County launches new LGBTQ+ affiliate fund amid funding and legislative challenges

By Ben Jodway ● Community ● June 18, 2026

‘This will feel like a win for our ability to better serve them’

How one LGBTQ+ organization is rebranding to connect and support rural Prides across Ohio

By Ben Jodway ● Rural ● June 12, 2026

SPARC wants rural Prides to have the resources and support of urban Prides

2026 LGBTQ+ Ohio Pride Guide

By Ken Schneck, H.L. Comeriato, Ben Jodway & Anna Malefatto (she/her) ● Pride ● June 4, 2026

To #FindYourPride, our 2026 guide has sections organized by city and by date.

Cleveland Gender Freedom Policy needs 5,000+ signatures for City Council vote

By Ken Schneck & Ben Jodway ● Transgender ● June 3, 2026

Protecting trans people in Cleveland is petition drive’s mission.

A collage showing two images. The left image is the colorful cover art for the tabletop roleplaying game "Defy the Gods" by Chrys Sellers. Male and feminine figures brandish their weapons and spells toward a god in a low-angle composition. The right image shows artwork of two masculine characters kissing from a "Defy the Gods" page spread.

Columbus game designer comes out while making new LGBTQ+ tabletop roleplaying game

By Ben Jodway ● Queer Joy ● May 27, 2026

‘I’m finally planting a flag about who I am as a designer’

‘Bitchy Vegan Homo’ is the new director of Cleveland Cinematheque

By Ben Jodway ● Culture ● May 22, 2026

Dave Huffman, vegan baker and Cleveland Cinemas veteran, wants to blend classic and genre films at the arthouse theater

Therapeutic workforce program in rural Ohio ensures LGBTQ+ workers don’t ‘fall off the map’

By Ben Jodway ● Health & Wellness ● May 15, 2026

Rocksprings Wellness helps queer Ohioans get jobs, housing and learn independent living skills as safety nets shrink

A child in a blue hat examines a table full of Pride memorabilia on a bright, sunny day.

Rural Ohio LGBTQ+ org to celebrate 5th annual Pride despite their lawmaker spearheading hate

By Ben Jodway ● Rural ● May 8, 2026

Seneca Proud has brought together Seneca County’s queer community for five years and counting

Ohio law prevented Kent State from celebrating LGBTQ+ graduates. Queer students made sure their ‘Lavender Celebration’ survived.

By Ben Jodway ● Education ● May 6, 2026

‘Lavender Celebration’ had a more student feel this year and seems needed more than ever