New Ohio Bill Seeks to Ban Drag Shows in Public
Ohio lawmakers have introduced a new bill that LGBTQ+ advocates say targets drag performances and threatens the right to gender expression in public spaces.
House Bill 249 would ban what it defines as “adult cabaret performances”; shows deemed “harmful to juveniles” that feature entertainers who present a gender identity different from their assigned sex at birth. The legislation would restrict such performances to designated “adult cabarets,” like bars and nightclubs, and ban them from all other public spaces.
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Supporters Reps. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania) and Angela King (R-Celina) say the bill is supposed to shield children from “sexualized performances” in public.
LGBTQ+ advocates are calling the bill an attack on drag performers and gender-nonconforming expression.
If passed, performers found in violation of the bill could face serious penalties, including:
- A first-degree misdemeanor if the show is performed in front of a minor under 18
- A fifth-degree felony if the performance is ruled obscene
- A fourth-degree felony if the performance is obscene and involves children under 13
The bill mirrors a similar law in Tennessee that has faced constitutional challenges. While a federal district judge initially struck down the measure as “unconstitutionally vague and substantially overbroad,” an appeals court later reinstated it. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the case earlier this year.
In Ohio, H.B. 249 will now move to a House committee for public hearings. A similar effort to restrict drag shows in Bellefontaine last year was halted when the Ohio Supreme Court blocked a proposed ordinance after finding it was submitted fraudulently.
“It’s definitely a weird experience to just be like visibly queer and have your reputation slandered just because you are gay in public,” says Columbus queen Blonde Vanity.
Advocates say they plan to show up in force when the bill comes up for public testimony.
New Ohio Bill Seeks to Ban Drag Shows in Public was originally published on ronethebuzzcincy.staging.go.ione.nyc