Ohio
Ohio moves to undo Cincinnati’s conversion therapy ban | Opinion
A proposed Ohio law and U.S. Supreme Court decision could overturn Cincinnati’s ban on conversion therapy, raising concerns about the return of a discredited and harmful practice.
Just over 10 years ago, Cincinnati City Council voted to ban conversion therapy in the city. For those who are unfamiliar, conversion therapy is a discredited practice aiming to “cure” patients of their homosexuality. This is at best useless pseudoscience and at worst a dangerous abuse of children.
It proved especially dangerous in 2014 when a transgender teenager in Cincinnati named Leelah Alcorn died by suicide, which she said was in part caused by the conversion therapy she was forced to endure. Conversion therapy is completely ineffective and has already killed at least one Cincinnatian. Unfortunately, many conservatives are arguing that the practice should be protected.
State Representatives Gary Click and Josh Williams have introduced a bill in the Ohio Statehouse that would ban cities from regulating conversion therapy, which would overturn Cincinnati’s ban and bring back this harmful practice. Even more broadly, the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Chiles v. Salazar seems likely to ban states and cities from regulating conversion therapy.
Turning back the clock
To be clear, these bans leave religious expression untouched. People can still speak out against homosexuality or say whatever they want about LGBTQ rights. These bans target therapy, not religious practices. I believe there can be sensible regulations on therapy to ensure that providers are not doing anything harmful to their patients, in the same way that there are regulations on what medical services a doctor can provide.
The actions by the Ohio GOP and the Supreme Court show that some want to turn the clock back and take away any rights that LGBTQ people have fought for over the past few decades. Gay rights opponents will try to soften their language and say they are just focused on transgender surgeries for minors or fairness in sports, but promoting this practice shows their problem is with gay people in general.
No matter how much you repeat it, you can not “pray the gay away.” Trying to force gay people back into the closet only results in tragedy.
Ben Kelly lives in Over-the-Rhine. A graduate of Northern Kentucky University, he works in government and is active in Democratic politics. Kelly worked with the National Suicide Prevention Hotline from 2019-2022.
Ohio State treated fans to a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Buckeye Stripes this week.
In a video released Wednesday that lasted more than six minutes, Ohio State pulled back the curtain on what it took to create Buckeye Stripes. The answer is more than 18 months of planning and countless hours of work behind the scenes.
Buckeye Stripes became a reality because of several Ohio State staffers whose contributions often go unnoticed, including assistant director of design Joe Gemma, director of creative and branding Ethan Miller, director of football equipment services Kevin Ries, assistant director of football equipment services Kevin Nerl, associate director of creative Danny Kraft, assistant director of creative Bryan Jay and assistant director of creative Domenick Guerrera.
Those staffers appeared throughout the behind-the-scenes feature alongside quarterback Julian Sayin, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr., linebacker Payton Pierce and cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr., who modeled the alternate uniform concepts Ohio State could wear during the 2026 season.
The Buckeyes now have five uniform combinations in their arsenal: their core home and away sets plus three alternates — the all-black “Tunnel Visions,” all-white “Sub Zeroes” and all-scarlet “Scarlet Rush.” Ohio State will unveil one of the new looks when it opens the 2026 season against Ball State on Sept. 5 in Ohio Stadium.
LISBON, Ohio (WKBN)- We could find out as soon as Wednesday whether or not funding will be coming to help repair the Lisbon pool.
Mayor Pete Wilson says he spoke with State Representative Monica Robb Blasdel.
He says their $150,000 request was added into the state capital expenditures bill, which is expected to be voted on Wednesday. The Mayor says he was told the vote is a formality and that the funding will be approved.
He says with this funding, they hope to have the pool open next year.
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) — Trumbull County Commissioners at Tuesday’s weekly workshop meeting discussed the possibility of enacting an additional 2.5% reduction in property taxes for people occupying homes.
Although no decision was made, all the commissioners agreed it was a good idea.
The owner occupancy deduction was one option enacted last year by the Ohio Legislature to lower property taxes.
The other option was the homestead deduction for homeowners 65 or older or permanently disabled. The owner occupancy deduction is the smaller of the two.
The commissioners indicated they hope to vote before July 1.
The deduction would save homeowners $25 for every $1,000 in property taxes but will mean less money for the townships, school and Trumbull County.
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