In September, a man threatened on social media to kill a transgender councilwoman in St. Marys in western Ohio. The FBI investigated the threat and arrested the man. 

In another incident, a man set fire to LGBTQ flags hanging in front of Cincinnati homes in July. 

In April, a man checked out 100 books on LGBTQ+, Jewish, and Black history from a library in Beachwood and set them all on fire. 

Ohio had 19 incidents involving propaganda distribution, 11 involved a protest, five were vandalism or property damage, three were arsons, two were a bomb or shooting threat, and two were verbal or written threat. 

Ohio anti-LGBTQ bills

The ACLU is currently tracking 366 anti-LGBTQ bills in the United States. Republican lawmakers in Ohio have introduced bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community. 

Ohio House Bill 190 would prohibit school employees from calling a student a name that is not listed on their birth certificate and ban them from using pronouns that do not align with their biological sex. 

Ohio Republican state Reps. Johnathan Newman and Josh Williams introduced the bill, which has only had one committee hearing. 

Ohio House Bill 172 would not allow minors 14 and older to receive mental health services without parental consent. Currently, mental health professionals are permitted to provide outpatient mental health services to minors 14 and older on a temporary basis without parental consent. 

Newman introduced this bill, which has has had three committee hearings so far – meaning it could be up for a committee vote soon. 

Ohio House Bill 249 would ban drag performers from performing anywhere that isn’t considered a designated adult entertainment facility. Ohio states Reps. Angie King, R-Celina, and Williams introduced this bill, which has had two hearings so far.

Ohio Equal Rights has started collecting signatures to get two amendments on the November ballot – including one that would get rid of the ban on same-sex marriage in the Ohio Constitution. 

Ohio’s constitution includes a ban on same-sex marriage after 61.7% of Ohio voters approved an amendment in 2004 that says marriage is only between one man and one woman. The United States Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in 2015 through the Obergefell case originating out of Ohio. 

Follow OCJ Reporter Megan Henry on X.