July 2024
A Threat To Our Rights
07/01/2024
Ohio Lawmakers Threaten Our Rights!
June is PRIDE month and as we have been celebrating our individuality and openness, many of our Ohio lawmakers have been taking advantage of the distraction to push the agenda to take away those rights. Currently in the Ohio legislature is HB-245 & HB-8, and SB-104.
HB-245 would amend sections 2907.39 and 4301.25 of the Revised Code to prohibit adult cabaret performances in locations other than adult cabarets. What does this mean? This means that simple drag performances in public such as PRIDE events, PRIDE parades and the like would become prohibited. This was born out of the desire to end those dreaded drag queen story hours that cranked up the extreme right wing folks and has sent them into overload. Never mind the logic behind such fears do not make sense. Drag has been around for many, many years and depicted in film and TV to no ill effect. I do not believe anyone who ever watched “Tootsie”, “Mrs. Doubtfire” or “Mash” suddenly had a desire to wear a dress or change their sexual orientation.
Key Concerns with HB 245
Criminalization and Felony Charges: HB 245 makes it a crime and in some cases a felony, to perform while transgender or in drag outside of adults-only clubs. The bill’s broad and ambiguous language creates significant legal risks and uncertainties.
Obscenity and Harmful Labeling
The bill equates living as or performing while transgender, and the art form of Drag, with being obscene and harmful to juveniles, perpetuating harmful stigmas and discrimination.
Chilling Effect on the Arts
By criminalizing Drag performances outside of “adult cabaret” venues and imposing felony charges if these performances occur in the presence of someone under 18, HB 245 will have a chilling effect on artistic expression and lead to self-censorship in spaces where gender-bending is part of the art form.
Conflict with First Amendment Rights
HB 245 poses a serious threat to First Amendment rights by restricting freedom of expression and artistic performance.
This bill is currently in House committee yet has not been introduced in the Ohio Senate.
When we look at HB-8, this sparks a whole new set of concerns. In summary: HB-8 would establish a fundamental right for parents to make decisions concerning the ‘upbringing, education, and care’ of the parent’s child, and prescribes specific obligations for he schools with regard to parental involvement. After being amended four times, HB-8 goes much further than protecting parental rights. It adds broad curriculum censorship reminiscent of the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bills from last session, adds a definition of sex to undermine existing civil rights protections granted to LGBTQ+ people, and creates disclosure and alternative curriculum rules for teachers and counselors that leave educators with impossible and conflicting rules and new obligations, further straining resources and time.
House Bill 8 adds a definition of sex that specifically contradicts Supreme Court precedents, Title IX laws, and undermines existing LGBTQ+ discrimination for employee and for students. This bill prohibits “sexuality content” that is not ‘age appropriate” defining “sexuality content’ as any oral or written instruction, presentation, image, or description of “sexual concepts or gender ideology.” Yet, sexual concepts and gender ideology are not defined leaving room for broad interpretation. It also specifies that parental consent to health care services do not waive the parent’s right to access their child’s educational or health records or to be notified about a change in the student’s services or monitoring. This amendment added a specific, explicit requirement for counselors and teachers to “out” a student that questions their gender identity or sexual orientation to their parents, no exceptions. Even in situations in which there is a fear of abuse.
A single parent will have the ability to file a complaint about the topics addressed by an entire class, which the school must address withing 30 days, even if that parent’s child has been removed from class. The bill also specifies that an appeals process for the parents must be in place. On the last Legislative session day before their summer recess, extremists in the Ohio legislature added an anti-LGBTQ+ amendment into Senate Bill 104 on the House floor. The last-minute amendment places a bathroom ban for transgender people in schools K-12 through Higher Education into an unrelated bill related to the College Credit Plus program. This amendment to SB 104 bans transgender and gender diverse people from using restrooms and other facilities aligned with their identities in schools and all universities in Ohio. This bill impacts both youth and adults. Bathrooms and overnight accommodations in all university or school related facilities are included in this bill, including stadiums and school-sanctioned field trips. It is time to get vigilant and reach out to law makers to protect your rights. This bill is currently in House committee yet has not been introduced in the Ohio Senate.
June is PRIDE month and as we have been celebrating our individuality and openness, many of our Ohio lawmakers have been taking advantage of the distraction to push the agenda to take away those rights. Currently in the Ohio legislature is HB-245 & HB-8, and SB-104.
HB-245 would amend sections 2907.39 and 4301.25 of the Revised Code to prohibit adult cabaret performances in locations other than adult cabarets. What does this mean? This means that simple drag performances in public such as PRIDE events, PRIDE parades and the like would become prohibited. This was born out of the desire to end those dreaded drag queen story hours that cranked up the extreme right wing folks and has sent them into overload. Never mind the logic behind such fears do not make sense. Drag has been around for many, many years and depicted in film and TV to no ill effect. I do not believe anyone who ever watched “Tootsie”, “Mrs. Doubtfire” or “Mash” suddenly had a desire to wear a dress or change their sexual orientation.
Key Concerns with HB 245
Criminalization and Felony Charges: HB 245 makes it a crime and in some cases a felony, to perform while transgender or in drag outside of adults-only clubs. The bill’s broad and ambiguous language creates significant legal risks and uncertainties.
Obscenity and Harmful Labeling
The bill equates living as or performing while transgender, and the art form of Drag, with being obscene and harmful to juveniles, perpetuating harmful stigmas and discrimination.
Chilling Effect on the Arts
By criminalizing Drag performances outside of “adult cabaret” venues and imposing felony charges if these performances occur in the presence of someone under 18, HB 245 will have a chilling effect on artistic expression and lead to self-censorship in spaces where gender-bending is part of the art form.
Conflict with First Amendment Rights
HB 245 poses a serious threat to First Amendment rights by restricting freedom of expression and artistic performance.
This bill is currently in House committee yet has not been introduced in the Ohio Senate.
When we look at HB-8, this sparks a whole new set of concerns. In summary: HB-8 would establish a fundamental right for parents to make decisions concerning the ‘upbringing, education, and care’ of the parent’s child, and prescribes specific obligations for he schools with regard to parental involvement. After being amended four times, HB-8 goes much further than protecting parental rights. It adds broad curriculum censorship reminiscent of the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bills from last session, adds a definition of sex to undermine existing civil rights protections granted to LGBTQ+ people, and creates disclosure and alternative curriculum rules for teachers and counselors that leave educators with impossible and conflicting rules and new obligations, further straining resources and time.
House Bill 8 adds a definition of sex that specifically contradicts Supreme Court precedents, Title IX laws, and undermines existing LGBTQ+ discrimination for employee and for students. This bill prohibits “sexuality content” that is not ‘age appropriate” defining “sexuality content’ as any oral or written instruction, presentation, image, or description of “sexual concepts or gender ideology.” Yet, sexual concepts and gender ideology are not defined leaving room for broad interpretation. It also specifies that parental consent to health care services do not waive the parent’s right to access their child’s educational or health records or to be notified about a change in the student’s services or monitoring. This amendment added a specific, explicit requirement for counselors and teachers to “out” a student that questions their gender identity or sexual orientation to their parents, no exceptions. Even in situations in which there is a fear of abuse.
A single parent will have the ability to file a complaint about the topics addressed by an entire class, which the school must address withing 30 days, even if that parent’s child has been removed from class. The bill also specifies that an appeals process for the parents must be in place. On the last Legislative session day before their summer recess, extremists in the Ohio legislature added an anti-LGBTQ+ amendment into Senate Bill 104 on the House floor. The last-minute amendment places a bathroom ban for transgender people in schools K-12 through Higher Education into an unrelated bill related to the College Credit Plus program. This amendment to SB 104 bans transgender and gender diverse people from using restrooms and other facilities aligned with their identities in schools and all universities in Ohio. This bill impacts both youth and adults. Bathrooms and overnight accommodations in all university or school related facilities are included in this bill, including stadiums and school-sanctioned field trips. It is time to get vigilant and reach out to law makers to protect your rights. This bill is currently in House committee yet has not been introduced in the Ohio Senate.
Masquerage, A Sad Goodbye
07/01/2024
After 24 Years, Masquerage Announces The End
At the very beginning, Brent Johnson of the budding Square One Salon served on the associates board of the Aids Resource Center, ARC and took on the task of creating a fundraiser for ARC. It was to be a Halloween Party of Parties. As this concept developed, his partner, Josh Stucky who came up with the name “Masquerage” as a masked rage party complete with fashion show.
As the Cannery complex had not been fully developed yet, the empty underdeveloped spaces became home to the first Masquerage. DJ Hill, and DJ Venus cranked out the tunes to get the party started and soon Lisa Grigsby stepped in to produce Maquerage.
Over the years this annual Party of Parties continued to be a signature fundraising event for ARC and later with the re-branding Equitas. A variety of themes and an ever changing line up of entertainment hit the stage, but as it was from the very beginning, at the very heart of it all was the Rubi Girls who enthralled the crowd year after year with their very own brand of entertainment.
Lisa Grigsby said of the ending: “I just heard that Equitas has made the very difficult decision to discontinue Masquerage moving forward. Dayton’s Party of Parties for a cause had an incredible 24 year run. I had a blast producing this event from 2009-2013! I want to say a great big thank you to all who volunteered, performed and supported this event. I made so many friends along the way!”
At the very beginning, Brent Johnson of the budding Square One Salon served on the associates board of the Aids Resource Center, ARC and took on the task of creating a fundraiser for ARC. It was to be a Halloween Party of Parties. As this concept developed, his partner, Josh Stucky who came up with the name “Masquerage” as a masked rage party complete with fashion show.
As the Cannery complex had not been fully developed yet, the empty underdeveloped spaces became home to the first Masquerage. DJ Hill, and DJ Venus cranked out the tunes to get the party started and soon Lisa Grigsby stepped in to produce Maquerage.
Over the years this annual Party of Parties continued to be a signature fundraising event for ARC and later with the re-branding Equitas. A variety of themes and an ever changing line up of entertainment hit the stage, but as it was from the very beginning, at the very heart of it all was the Rubi Girls who enthralled the crowd year after year with their very own brand of entertainment.
Lisa Grigsby said of the ending: “I just heard that Equitas has made the very difficult decision to discontinue Masquerage moving forward. Dayton’s Party of Parties for a cause had an incredible 24 year run. I had a blast producing this event from 2009-2013! I want to say a great big thank you to all who volunteered, performed and supported this event. I made so many friends along the way!”