COLUMBUS, Ohio — Republicans in the Ohio House are making moves to restrict drag performances across the state.
House Bill 245, which has more than 40 co-sponsors, gets into specific language about where drag performers would be able to perform in Ohio.
The bill aims to restrict drag performances to "adult cabarets" or places that are designated as "adult entertainment facilities.”
The language in the bill would make it illegal to perform in public places where the performer is exhibiting a gender identity that is different from the performer's gender assigned at birth.
If a performer is caught doing this, and someone under 18 is present, they face a misdemeanor of the first degree. As the legislation is written, the penalties get worse if there are even younger children present.
“It prohibits obscene entertainment in the presence of a minor,” said Representative Josh Williams, a co-sponsor of the bill.
Williams said this legislation is about protecting minors.
“There’s a morality issue to it. We don’t want to expose minors to sexualized performances at a very young age. We have seen time and time again, there’s been a push towards these performances getting explicit in the presence of minors,” said Williams.
Williams wants to limit those performances to places like bars and nightclubs.
But LGBTQ+ advocates said the bill is an attempt to suppress their culture.
“Absolutely, how absurd and ridiculous is this motion. It’s a form of entertainment and it’s been prevalent in our culture and society for thousands of years,” said Nick Eichler, former Miss Gay Ohio America.
Eichler said some drag is not appropriate for children, but that type of drag is not at parades and parks. He said there is drag that is appropriate for children.
“The artistic ability, the work that goes into it, the expression. And the influence for those who say hey I’m different and may connect with this person,” said Eichler.
Right now, the bill has only been introduced in the Ohio House.