Anti-Drag Bill Introduced
07/31/2023
An Anti-Drag Bill Has Been Introduced In The Ohio Legislature, 135th General Assembly
Angela King, (R-Celina) along with Representative Josh Williams, (R-Sylvania) has introduced H.B. 245 to prohibit adult cabaret performances. The bill as introduced reads: To amend sections 2907.39 and 4301.25 of the Revised Code to prohibit adult cabaret performances in locations other than adult cabarets. This bill then goes on to attempt to define an adult cabaret performance.
(b) Live performances that are characterized by the exposure of specified anatomical areas or specified sexual activities; (c) Films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, or other photographic reproductions that are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon the exhibition (4) “Adult cabaret performance” means a performance in a location other than an adult cabaret that is harmful to juveniles or obscene and that features topless dancers; go-go dancers; exotic dancers; strippers; performers or entertainers who exhibit a gender identity that is different from the performer’s or entertainer’s gender assigned at birth using clothing, makeup, prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts, or other physical markers; or other similar performers or entertainers who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest, regardless of whether or not the performance is for consideration. While we know this is just a long reach to make it illegal for a drag queen to read a book to children in the library, the vagueness could also be stretched to making it illegal for a drag performance at courthouse square during PRIDE.
A good portion of this bill is directly referring to porn or adult sexual displays or activities that could be seen outside a cabaret or bar setting by anyone under the age of 18; it might seem the intent is that a law enforcement officer could easily extend the law to cover more innocent acts such as drag performances in public, which are simply designed to entertain but that are not necessarily sexual in nature - simply because it could be a judgement call as to what is sexual in nature as a whole. Many of these types bills seem on the surface, to “Protect The Children” - lead the public to think we are being proactive to protect the public from a potential problem that just has not manifested itself yet; or, we could see it for what it really is, a way to strike at a minority to make a few politicians look pious in the eyes of their base.
Link to The Ohio Legislature House Bill 245
Link to HB245 PDF text
Linked references current as of July 31, 2023.
Angela King, (R-Celina) along with Representative Josh Williams, (R-Sylvania) has introduced H.B. 245 to prohibit adult cabaret performances. The bill as introduced reads: To amend sections 2907.39 and 4301.25 of the Revised Code to prohibit adult cabaret performances in locations other than adult cabarets. This bill then goes on to attempt to define an adult cabaret performance.
(b) Live performances that are characterized by the exposure of specified anatomical areas or specified sexual activities; (c) Films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, or other photographic reproductions that are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon the exhibition (4) “Adult cabaret performance” means a performance in a location other than an adult cabaret that is harmful to juveniles or obscene and that features topless dancers; go-go dancers; exotic dancers; strippers; performers or entertainers who exhibit a gender identity that is different from the performer’s or entertainer’s gender assigned at birth using clothing, makeup, prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts, or other physical markers; or other similar performers or entertainers who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest, regardless of whether or not the performance is for consideration. While we know this is just a long reach to make it illegal for a drag queen to read a book to children in the library, the vagueness could also be stretched to making it illegal for a drag performance at courthouse square during PRIDE.
A good portion of this bill is directly referring to porn or adult sexual displays or activities that could be seen outside a cabaret or bar setting by anyone under the age of 18; it might seem the intent is that a law enforcement officer could easily extend the law to cover more innocent acts such as drag performances in public, which are simply designed to entertain but that are not necessarily sexual in nature - simply because it could be a judgement call as to what is sexual in nature as a whole. Many of these types bills seem on the surface, to “Protect The Children” - lead the public to think we are being proactive to protect the public from a potential problem that just has not manifested itself yet; or, we could see it for what it really is, a way to strike at a minority to make a few politicians look pious in the eyes of their base.
Link to The Ohio Legislature House Bill 245
Link to HB245 PDF text
Linked references current as of July 31, 2023.