Politics Archives – The Buckeye Flame

Out LGBTQ+ candidate Stephanie Thomas announces bid for Cuyahoga County Council

By H.L. Comeriato ● Politics ● January 20, 2026

Thomas to campaign on rent control, senior services, labor relations and open office hours in District 3.

Latest in Politics

Ohio organizers ‘optimistic’ as campaign launches to collect signatures for two equal rights ballot initiatives

By Ken Schneck ● Policy/Legislation ● January 20, 2026

Over 880,000 signatures needed to guarantee marriage equality and nondiscrimination protections in Ohio

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.

Drag queen Sugar Vermonte announces bid for Ohio’s 9th Congressional seat

By Ken Schneck ● Politics ● January 6, 2026

The Libertarian and Great Food Truck Race’ star’s challengers include one of the co-sponsors of Ohio’s proposed drag ban and the Democrat incumbent.

Human Rights Campaign endorses Sherrod Brown for Ohio U.S. Senate seat

By Ken Schneck & H.L. Comeriato ● Politics ● December 19, 2025

LGBTQ+ Ohio leaders noted the importance of this race, as the 2026 mid-term elections have the potential to swing the balance of power in Washington D.C. away from the Republican-controlled Congress

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

Aaron Baer, president of the Center for Christian Virtue, in front of The City Club of Ohio

Ohio Attorney General weighs in on City Club of Cleveland’s decision to host anti-LGBTQ+ hate group

By H.L. Comeriato ● Community ● December 11, 2025

City Club CEO tells conservative outlet: ‘We’re not canceling.’

Ohio LGBTQ+ leaders pen open letter denouncing City Club of Cleveland after forum books anti-LGBTQ+ hate group

By H.L. Comeriato ● Community ● December 9, 2025

Historic free speech forum to host hate group president; LGBTQ+ leaders and hate group respond.

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.