Out Here Film Fest 2025
09/30/2025
Out Here Film Fest 2025: Twenty Years of Queer Cinema in Dayton
From October 9 through 12, 2025, Dayton’s downtown will once again transform into a hub of queer film and storytelling as the 20th annual Out Here Dayton Film Fest takes center stage at THE NEON. This milestone edition honors two decades of amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices on the big screen, while also pointing forward—curating new, bold work that reflects the evolving landscape of queer lives, culture, and resistance.
A Legacy of Visibility and Community
Since its founding, Out Here Dayton has aimed to provide not just film screenings, but a gathering space for queer minds and hearts in the Miami Valley. Over its first 19 years, the festival screened 337 films and hosted 57 guest artists.
The name “Out Here” itself signals a desire to bridge the margins—not simply “LGBT films in Dayton,” but a plural, expansive platform for narratives “out here” in the world, reflecting intersectional identities and lived experience.
According to Festival Director Jonathan McNeal, the festival is more than entertainment - it is community infrastructure. In a time when queer expression in many places faces pressure, Out Here Dayton’s 20th anniversary carries weight as both celebration and affirmation.
Programming Highlights: 24 Films, 9 Programs
This year features 24 short and feature-length films across 9 distinct screening blocks, weaving together documentaries, narrative features, experimental work, and short films from multiple nations.
The selections were chosen to evoke laughter, provoke reflection, and spark conversation, with stories that traverse race, class, gender, family, and activism.
Here are a few standouts from the announced schedule:
Opening Night, Thu, Oct 9, 7:30 PM - Highlights
Outerlands (Dir. Elena Oxman) — a 100‑minute film about a gig worker in San Francisco negotiating care, risk, and emotional labor.
Friday, Oct 10, 7:30 PM
Blue Moon (Dir. Richard Linklater) screens, preceded by a short film I’m the Most Racist Person I Know (Dir. Leela Varghese).
Beyond the screenings, the festival will host a Friday Night Party at Joui Wine (117 E. 3rd St.), offering a social gathering space for attendees after the films.
Saturday Highlights
Logistics, Access & Support
Venue & Seating: All screenings are held at The NEON in downtown
Dayton. Seating is open (not reserved), but “All Access” passholders and sponsors will receive priority seat selection. Tickets and passes are sold online via the festival website and the Neon Box office.
A festival pass grants entry to all 9 screenings and the opening-night party.
Single tickets for individual screenings are sold online and at The NEON’s box office.
Scholarships are offered so that cost is not a barrier for community members who wish to attend. Parking & Location: Free parking is available directly across the street from The NEON. The theater is surrounded by restaurants and amenities within walking distance.
Why This Year Matters
Reaching a 20-year milestone is no small feat for a regional queer film festival. For the organizers, it’s a moment to reflect on how stories have evolved—and how the need for gathering spaces endures. As McNeal told The Buckeye Flame, “building strong community is more important than ever… our community is more and more under attack.” The festival’s programming emphasizes not only representation, but connection: laughter, advocacy, emotional resonance, and critical engagement. This year’s lineup is notable for the diversity of voices and forms. From horror to documentary, experimental shorts to feature narratives—these works defy neat categorization and push viewers to reckon with complexity. The inclusion of local partnerships (like with Dayton Metro Library for The Librarians) also roots the festival in civic engagement. As attention to queer cinema continues to grow nationally, festivals like Out Here Dayton help maintain the vital ecosystem where emerging voices find an audience, and where local communities can see themselves reflected in stories that are not always shown on mainstream screens.
Final Thoughts & How to Participate
Whether you’re a longtime fan of queer cinema or a newcomer eager to engage, the 2025 Out Here Dayton Film Fest offers something for everyone: rigorous, funny, challenging, moving. It remains a space to gather, to resist, to celebrate.
Mark your calendar (Oct 9–12), secure your festival pass or single tickets, and plan to arrive early. Follow updates via the festival’s Facebook and Instagram for any last-minute changes or special events.
In a changing world, a film festival is more than a lineup—it’s a statement: that queer stories matter, that community endures, and that cinema can carry us through. Here’s to year 20—and many more.
From October 9 through 12, 2025, Dayton’s downtown will once again transform into a hub of queer film and storytelling as the 20th annual Out Here Dayton Film Fest takes center stage at THE NEON. This milestone edition honors two decades of amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices on the big screen, while also pointing forward—curating new, bold work that reflects the evolving landscape of queer lives, culture, and resistance.
A Legacy of Visibility and Community
Since its founding, Out Here Dayton has aimed to provide not just film screenings, but a gathering space for queer minds and hearts in the Miami Valley. Over its first 19 years, the festival screened 337 films and hosted 57 guest artists.
The name “Out Here” itself signals a desire to bridge the margins—not simply “LGBT films in Dayton,” but a plural, expansive platform for narratives “out here” in the world, reflecting intersectional identities and lived experience.
According to Festival Director Jonathan McNeal, the festival is more than entertainment - it is community infrastructure. In a time when queer expression in many places faces pressure, Out Here Dayton’s 20th anniversary carries weight as both celebration and affirmation.
Programming Highlights: 24 Films, 9 Programs
This year features 24 short and feature-length films across 9 distinct screening blocks, weaving together documentaries, narrative features, experimental work, and short films from multiple nations.
The selections were chosen to evoke laughter, provoke reflection, and spark conversation, with stories that traverse race, class, gender, family, and activism.
Here are a few standouts from the announced schedule:
Opening Night, Thu, Oct 9, 7:30 PM - Highlights
Outerlands (Dir. Elena Oxman) — a 100‑minute film about a gig worker in San Francisco negotiating care, risk, and emotional labor.
Friday, Oct 10, 7:30 PM
Blue Moon (Dir. Richard Linklater) screens, preceded by a short film I’m the Most Racist Person I Know (Dir. Leela Varghese).
Beyond the screenings, the festival will host a Friday Night Party at Joui Wine (117 E. 3rd St.), offering a social gathering space for attendees after the films.
Saturday Highlights
- The Librarians (Dir. Kim A. Snyder) — a timely documentary on librarians defending intellectual freedom amid waves of book banning.
- Top Drawer Shorts — a collection including Sweet Talkin’ Guy, Safety State, Thanks Babs, and more. •
- We Are Pat — revisiting the iconic SNL “It’s Pat” sketch in a trans lens.
- Queens of the Dead — a horror-comedy blending queerness and camp, featuring names like Margaret Cho. Sunday (Oct 12): • State of Firsts (Dir. Chase Joynt) — following the campaign of Sarah McBride, the first transgender member of Congress.
- #300LETTERS — closing the festival with an Argentine film about love, absence, and communication.
- Also included: In the Best Interests of the Children, Lesbian Custody, Old Girl in a Tutu: Susan Rennie Disrupts Art History, among other shorts.
Logistics, Access & Support
Venue & Seating: All screenings are held at The NEON in downtown
Dayton. Seating is open (not reserved), but “All Access” passholders and sponsors will receive priority seat selection. Tickets and passes are sold online via the festival website and the Neon Box office.
A festival pass grants entry to all 9 screenings and the opening-night party.
Single tickets for individual screenings are sold online and at The NEON’s box office.
Scholarships are offered so that cost is not a barrier for community members who wish to attend. Parking & Location: Free parking is available directly across the street from The NEON. The theater is surrounded by restaurants and amenities within walking distance.
Why This Year Matters
Reaching a 20-year milestone is no small feat for a regional queer film festival. For the organizers, it’s a moment to reflect on how stories have evolved—and how the need for gathering spaces endures. As McNeal told The Buckeye Flame, “building strong community is more important than ever… our community is more and more under attack.” The festival’s programming emphasizes not only representation, but connection: laughter, advocacy, emotional resonance, and critical engagement. This year’s lineup is notable for the diversity of voices and forms. From horror to documentary, experimental shorts to feature narratives—these works defy neat categorization and push viewers to reckon with complexity. The inclusion of local partnerships (like with Dayton Metro Library for The Librarians) also roots the festival in civic engagement. As attention to queer cinema continues to grow nationally, festivals like Out Here Dayton help maintain the vital ecosystem where emerging voices find an audience, and where local communities can see themselves reflected in stories that are not always shown on mainstream screens.
Final Thoughts & How to Participate
Whether you’re a longtime fan of queer cinema or a newcomer eager to engage, the 2025 Out Here Dayton Film Fest offers something for everyone: rigorous, funny, challenging, moving. It remains a space to gather, to resist, to celebrate.
Mark your calendar (Oct 9–12), secure your festival pass or single tickets, and plan to arrive early. Follow updates via the festival’s Facebook and Instagram for any last-minute changes or special events.
In a changing world, a film festival is more than a lineup—it’s a statement: that queer stories matter, that community endures, and that cinema can carry us through. Here’s to year 20—and many more.
HERStory/HIStory Project
08/03/2025
Share Your Story: The HERstory/HIStory Project Seeks Voices for LGBTQ+ Archives
by Rick Flynn
by Rick Flynn
We are calling on individuals to contribute to a vital initiative aimed at preserving the rich tapestry of LGBTQ+ experiences. The “HERstory / HIStory” project invites community members to book appointments to share or update their personal stories, ensuring that these narratives become a permanent part of the historical record.Scheduled for August 16th, from 11 am to 5 pm, this dedicated day offers an opportunity for both new participants and those who have previously shared to contribute. The project emphasizes the importance of updating existing stories, recognizing that lives evolve and new perspectives emerge over time.All stories collected through the HERstory / HIStory project will be video-recorded and preserved within the LGBT Center Archives. This commitment to video documentation ensures a dynamic and accessible record for future generations.This initiative provides a crucial platform for individuals to contribute to a collective memory, ensuring that the struggles, triumphs, and everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people are not forgotten. It’s an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy and inform future understanding of LGBTQ+ history.To make an appointment and share your HERstory or HIStory, pleasecontact Randy by calling (937) 623-1590, or email randy@gaydayton.org.
Land of The Free...
08/03/2025
LAND OF THE FREE (Terms and Conditions Apply)
by Andrew Joseph Duffer
I didn’t celebrate the Fourth of July this year. I haven’t in many years—because most Americans keep their heads buried in the sand, except on the Fourth, when they lift them into the clouds just long enough to watch fireworks burst above a country that’s burning below.
Their heads are never where they should be—and that’s exactly how those in power want it.
Because if you’re not paying attention, then you won’t be horrified. This isn’t the land of the free. It’s the land where freedom is rationed—right alongside insulin and food—where billionaires buy Supreme Court rulings and fly private jets over tent cities, while over 600 anti-LGBTQ+ bills sweep the country.
This is the land where women have fewer rights than they did 50 years ago. Where doctors hesitate to save lives out of fear of vague, brutal laws. This is the land where, if you’re Black, Brown, Indigenous, disabled, or an immigrant, they want you just visible enough to exploit— and just invisible enough to forget. This is the land where voter suppression and police brutality aren’t just common— they’re normalized. Where Indigenous land was stolen, handed back in fragments, and now even that is being stripped for profit.
Sovereignty is ignored. Treaties are trampled. It’s the land where we criminalize homelessness instead of solving it. Where poverty is treated like a crime, not a crisis. We can’t find housing or mental healthcare— but we found millions in days to build a barbed-wire concentration camp in a Florida swamp, called Alligator Alcatraz, surrounded by gators and guards. There’s no budget for compassion here. But there’s always one for cruelty. Wages are stagnant. Rent is extortion. One medical bill can ruin you. All public schools and healthcare have become battlegrounds for religious control. Christianity is no longer practiced— it’s legislated. The separation of church and state is dead. And democracy is next—thanks to Project 2025. They want Trump to control every federal agency— the DOJ, even the military. They want to replace public servants with loyal extremists, and erase every check and balance. You’re not unpatriotic for calling this out. You’re just awake. And “woke” is the last thing they want you to be. This isn’t a nation. It’s a machine. A machine that feeds on rights— and spits out power. A gated community with a graveyard underneath. So what exactly are we supposed to celebrate? Ask the woman forced to give birth to her rapist’s child. Or the trans teen too afraid to pee at school. Or the immigrant father in a cage, while his child sleeps on concrete. Ask the unhoused veteran who served a country that won’t even serve him a hot meal. You want to honor America? Then tell the truth. Because truth is the only kind of patriotism left. And the truth is—we are not free. Not while billionaires buy elections and churches write policy. And they’re not even hiding it anymore. They don’t want democracy. They want dominance. And they’re betting that you’ll be too tired, too numb, or too distracted to stop them. Because this system doesn’t just depress— it exhausts. It wrings you out. The American Dream was never a promise. It was bait. And we fell for it. America didn’t break— it worked exactly as it was designed to. The system isn’t failing—it’s functioning. Feeding the powerful. Draining the rest of us dry. And if that makes you sad—good. That sadness means you still have a soul. Use it.
I’m not just talking to the people who are hurting. I’m talking to you, too, Republicans. You’re letting this happen. And if you’re feeling something in your chest—something unsettling, heavy, or hard—don’t run from that. Lean into it. That ache in your gut is your conscience whispering that something is wrong. Question what you’ve been taught. Be brave enough to disagree with your families. Strong enough to challenge your husband. Honest enough to admit you’ve been lied to. Because silence doesn’t keep you safe. It keeps you complicit. And history is watching. You think this is about politics. It’s about power. About who gets to live freely—and who has to live quietly, until someone decides they shouldn’t live at all. You think you’re safe because your church told you this was right. Because your 401(k) is doing fine. But authoritarianism doesn’t stop where you’re comfortable. It starts there.
You think your privilege is a shield. It’s a leash. You don’t have to agree with me on everything. You don’t even have to like me. But if you love this country—then prove it. Protect the people it’s trying to erase. Because you’re next. And I’d rather stand beside you now—while there is still something left to stand for— than watch you learn too late. The boots are already on the ground. The laws are already written. The ink is drying. And when the silence comes, it won’t be peace. It will be the absence of every voice they erased: every queer kid, every person of color, every immigrant, every protest silenced. And in that quiet will feel calm—until you realize it’s just the calm before your storm. That’s when you’ll remember our warnings. Because it always starts with cheering— and it always ends with history. People think it will never happen again. You’re not safe. You’re spared—for now. I’m not anti-American. But I won’t put my hand over my heart and pledge allegiance to a country that makes it beat out of fear.
by Andrew Joseph Duffer
I didn’t celebrate the Fourth of July this year. I haven’t in many years—because most Americans keep their heads buried in the sand, except on the Fourth, when they lift them into the clouds just long enough to watch fireworks burst above a country that’s burning below.
Their heads are never where they should be—and that’s exactly how those in power want it.
Because if you’re not paying attention, then you won’t be horrified. This isn’t the land of the free. It’s the land where freedom is rationed—right alongside insulin and food—where billionaires buy Supreme Court rulings and fly private jets over tent cities, while over 600 anti-LGBTQ+ bills sweep the country.
This is the land where women have fewer rights than they did 50 years ago. Where doctors hesitate to save lives out of fear of vague, brutal laws. This is the land where, if you’re Black, Brown, Indigenous, disabled, or an immigrant, they want you just visible enough to exploit— and just invisible enough to forget. This is the land where voter suppression and police brutality aren’t just common— they’re normalized. Where Indigenous land was stolen, handed back in fragments, and now even that is being stripped for profit.
Sovereignty is ignored. Treaties are trampled. It’s the land where we criminalize homelessness instead of solving it. Where poverty is treated like a crime, not a crisis. We can’t find housing or mental healthcare— but we found millions in days to build a barbed-wire concentration camp in a Florida swamp, called Alligator Alcatraz, surrounded by gators and guards. There’s no budget for compassion here. But there’s always one for cruelty. Wages are stagnant. Rent is extortion. One medical bill can ruin you. All public schools and healthcare have become battlegrounds for religious control. Christianity is no longer practiced— it’s legislated. The separation of church and state is dead. And democracy is next—thanks to Project 2025. They want Trump to control every federal agency— the DOJ, even the military. They want to replace public servants with loyal extremists, and erase every check and balance. You’re not unpatriotic for calling this out. You’re just awake. And “woke” is the last thing they want you to be. This isn’t a nation. It’s a machine. A machine that feeds on rights— and spits out power. A gated community with a graveyard underneath. So what exactly are we supposed to celebrate? Ask the woman forced to give birth to her rapist’s child. Or the trans teen too afraid to pee at school. Or the immigrant father in a cage, while his child sleeps on concrete. Ask the unhoused veteran who served a country that won’t even serve him a hot meal. You want to honor America? Then tell the truth. Because truth is the only kind of patriotism left. And the truth is—we are not free. Not while billionaires buy elections and churches write policy. And they’re not even hiding it anymore. They don’t want democracy. They want dominance. And they’re betting that you’ll be too tired, too numb, or too distracted to stop them. Because this system doesn’t just depress— it exhausts. It wrings you out. The American Dream was never a promise. It was bait. And we fell for it. America didn’t break— it worked exactly as it was designed to. The system isn’t failing—it’s functioning. Feeding the powerful. Draining the rest of us dry. And if that makes you sad—good. That sadness means you still have a soul. Use it.
I’m not just talking to the people who are hurting. I’m talking to you, too, Republicans. You’re letting this happen. And if you’re feeling something in your chest—something unsettling, heavy, or hard—don’t run from that. Lean into it. That ache in your gut is your conscience whispering that something is wrong. Question what you’ve been taught. Be brave enough to disagree with your families. Strong enough to challenge your husband. Honest enough to admit you’ve been lied to. Because silence doesn’t keep you safe. It keeps you complicit. And history is watching. You think this is about politics. It’s about power. About who gets to live freely—and who has to live quietly, until someone decides they shouldn’t live at all. You think you’re safe because your church told you this was right. Because your 401(k) is doing fine. But authoritarianism doesn’t stop where you’re comfortable. It starts there.
You think your privilege is a shield. It’s a leash. You don’t have to agree with me on everything. You don’t even have to like me. But if you love this country—then prove it. Protect the people it’s trying to erase. Because you’re next. And I’d rather stand beside you now—while there is still something left to stand for— than watch you learn too late. The boots are already on the ground. The laws are already written. The ink is drying. And when the silence comes, it won’t be peace. It will be the absence of every voice they erased: every queer kid, every person of color, every immigrant, every protest silenced. And in that quiet will feel calm—until you realize it’s just the calm before your storm. That’s when you’ll remember our warnings. Because it always starts with cheering— and it always ends with history. People think it will never happen again. You’re not safe. You’re spared—for now. I’m not anti-American. But I won’t put my hand over my heart and pledge allegiance to a country that makes it beat out of fear.
Pride Around Ohio - 2025
05/31/2025
Akron
Punks for Pride – Trans Joy Akron Benefit
Friday, June 27, 7 p.m.
Rialto Theater, 1000 Kenmore Blvd.
Trans Pride in the Park – Cookout & Field Day
Saturday, July 12, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Hardesty Park, 1615 W Market St.
Akron Pride 5K
Friday, August 22 6:30 p.m.
Canal Place, 520 S Main St.
Family Pride Talent Show
Friday, August 22 Time: TBD
52 West Exchange St.
Akron Pride Festival & Equity March
Saturday, August 23, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Downtown Akron
Family Pride Cookout
Sunday, August 24 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Chestnut Ridge Park, 1926 19th St. SW
Beavercreek
Beavercreek Pride
Sunday, June 8, 3 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Rotary Park, Beavercreek
2338 Dayton-Xenia Rd.
Bedford
Cleveland Pagan Pride
Friday-Sunday, August 15-17, Various times
Bedford Commons
730 Broadway Ave.
Bellefontaine
Bellefontaine PrideFest
Saturday, June 21, 11 a.m.
East Columbus St. in Downtown Bellefontaine
Bowling Green
Rainbow Rally
Saturday, June 28, Noon – 5:30 p.m.
100 S Church St.
Cincinnati
Cincinnati Pride Parade
Saturday, June 28 11 a.m.
Downtown Cincinnati, 500 7th St. W
Cincinnati Pride Festival
Saturday, June 28 Noon – 8 p.m.
Yeatman’s Cove Park, 472 East Pete Rose Way
Pride Night at Kings Island
Friday, September 5 6 p.m. – 11:45 p.m.
Kings Island Dr.
Mason, OH
Greenville
Dark Country Pride
June 27, 10:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
5395 St Rte 49
Greenville, OH
Dayton
Friday Night Affair on St. Clair (Pre-Pride)
Friday, June 6 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
136 N St Clair St.
Dayton Pride Parade and Festival
Saturday, June 7 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
136 N. St. Clair St.
PFLAG’s Running with Pride
Sunday, June 8, 9 a.m.
Eastwood Park, 1385 Harshman Rd.
“The Power of Love”
Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus Pride Concert
Saturday, June 14 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Roger Glass Center for the Arts
29 Creative Way, Dayton
THE RIGHT GIRLS Film
Screening & Director Q+A
Friday, June 20 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Dayton Metro Library Main Library
215 E. Third St.
Dayton Black Pride
Saturday, August 9 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Courthouse Square
Kettering
Kettering PRIDE Drag Show
1700 Delco Park, Kettering 3rd Shelter
Various Times
Middletown Pride
Friday. June 20 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Downtown Middletown
1131 Central Ave.
Springfield
Springfield Pride Kick-Off Drag Show
Friday, June 27 8 p.m.
O’Conners Irish Pub, 2200 N. Limestone St.
Springfield Pride Festival
Saturday, June 28 Noon – 4 p.m.
Downtown Springfield
Toledo
Toledo Pride Parade and Festival
Friday-Sunday, August 15-17
Noon – 10:30pm
Promenade Park, 400 Water St.
West Carrollton
Teen Summer Craft Series: Pride Bracelets
Thursday, June 26
3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Dayton Metro Library,
West Carrollton Branch
300 E. Central Ave.
Yellow Springs
Yellow Springs Pride
Saturday, June 28 - 11 Am to 5 PM
Mills Lawn Elementary School
264 S Walnut St,
Yellow Springs, OH 45387
Punks for Pride – Trans Joy Akron Benefit
Friday, June 27, 7 p.m.
Rialto Theater, 1000 Kenmore Blvd.
Trans Pride in the Park – Cookout & Field Day
Saturday, July 12, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Hardesty Park, 1615 W Market St.
Akron Pride 5K
Friday, August 22 6:30 p.m.
Canal Place, 520 S Main St.
Family Pride Talent Show
Friday, August 22 Time: TBD
52 West Exchange St.
Akron Pride Festival & Equity March
Saturday, August 23, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Downtown Akron
Family Pride Cookout
Sunday, August 24 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Chestnut Ridge Park, 1926 19th St. SW
Beavercreek
Beavercreek Pride
Sunday, June 8, 3 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Rotary Park, Beavercreek
2338 Dayton-Xenia Rd.
Bedford
Cleveland Pagan Pride
Friday-Sunday, August 15-17, Various times
Bedford Commons
730 Broadway Ave.
Bellefontaine
Bellefontaine PrideFest
Saturday, June 21, 11 a.m.
East Columbus St. in Downtown Bellefontaine
Bowling Green
Rainbow Rally
Saturday, June 28, Noon – 5:30 p.m.
100 S Church St.
Cincinnati
Cincinnati Pride Parade
Saturday, June 28 11 a.m.
Downtown Cincinnati, 500 7th St. W
Cincinnati Pride Festival
Saturday, June 28 Noon – 8 p.m.
Yeatman’s Cove Park, 472 East Pete Rose Way
Pride Night at Kings Island
Friday, September 5 6 p.m. – 11:45 p.m.
Kings Island Dr.
Mason, OH
Greenville
Dark Country Pride
June 27, 10:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
5395 St Rte 49
Greenville, OH
Dayton
Friday Night Affair on St. Clair (Pre-Pride)
Friday, June 6 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
136 N St Clair St.
Dayton Pride Parade and Festival
Saturday, June 7 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
136 N. St. Clair St.
PFLAG’s Running with Pride
Sunday, June 8, 9 a.m.
Eastwood Park, 1385 Harshman Rd.
“The Power of Love”
Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus Pride Concert
Saturday, June 14 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Roger Glass Center for the Arts
29 Creative Way, Dayton
THE RIGHT GIRLS Film
Screening & Director Q+A
Friday, June 20 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Dayton Metro Library Main Library
215 E. Third St.
Dayton Black Pride
Saturday, August 9 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Courthouse Square
Kettering
Kettering PRIDE Drag Show
1700 Delco Park, Kettering 3rd Shelter
Various Times
Middletown Pride
Friday. June 20 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Downtown Middletown
1131 Central Ave.
Springfield
Springfield Pride Kick-Off Drag Show
Friday, June 27 8 p.m.
O’Conners Irish Pub, 2200 N. Limestone St.
Springfield Pride Festival
Saturday, June 28 Noon – 4 p.m.
Downtown Springfield
Toledo
Toledo Pride Parade and Festival
Friday-Sunday, August 15-17
Noon – 10:30pm
Promenade Park, 400 Water St.
West Carrollton
Teen Summer Craft Series: Pride Bracelets
Thursday, June 26
3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Dayton Metro Library,
West Carrollton Branch
300 E. Central Ave.
Yellow Springs
Yellow Springs Pride
Saturday, June 28 - 11 Am to 5 PM
Mills Lawn Elementary School
264 S Walnut St,
Yellow Springs, OH 45387
It Begins
03/01/2025
The Trump Administration continues its attack on the LGBTQ community and to “reshape” the American Family as outlined is the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. While on the campaign trail when many people cried out against Project 2025, Mr. Trump claimed he has not read it. I am absolutely sure that this was true, he had not read it, after all it was written by his former cabinet and advisers as a blueprint to dismantling government agencies and has a lot to say about what your private relationships should look like and who you should marry.
In fact, Christian Nationalist vision of the family is a key ingredient of the 922 page manual. According to Project 2025, not all families are created equal. On page 451, it defines the “right” kind of family as “a married mother, father, and their children.” It claims this is the “foundation of a well-ordered nation and a healthy society.” Yes, I could point to the similar propaganda that came out of Germany in the 1930’s, but I will refrain.
Promoting this biblical concept of family is cited as a top-five goal for a revamped Department of Health and Human Services, which it criticizes for “having lost its way” by “promoting equity in everything we do.”
The document says efforts at promoting diversity should be repealed and replaced with policies that support what it calls the formation of “stable, married, nuclear families.”
In other words, the authors of Project 2025 believe they have the right to dictate what your family should look like, extending the arm of government into your home — and into your bedroom — to enforce a Christian nationalist worldview. They consider this not just a policy preference, but a core function of governance itself.
To propel this view, Idaho lawmakers pushed forward a resolution to overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling on same sex marriage, arguing it’s an overstep of federal authority. The House State Affairs Committee’s decision prompted emotional testimony, with opponents stressing the importance of equal rights and questioning the historical misuse of states’ rights arguments. Both local and out-of-state voices, including those labeled as anti-LGBTQ+ groups, expressed their viewpoints. The resolution now heads to the full House for a vote, and it appears their main goal is to get to the Supreme Court so Obergefell v. Hodges can be overturned.
It should be noted that traditional families — people who are married with children — no longer make up the majority of family compositions in the U.S., according to recent polling by the Pew Research Center. This shift in family structures is due in part to more same-sex couples adopting children or starting their own families, reflecting the diverse and evolving landscape of today’s American society.
That diversity, according to the authors of Project 2025, poses a danger to “the very moral foundations of our society.”
The document lays out several proposals for undermining the rights of those who don’t fit the biblical definition of a family. For instance, it wants the government to protect the right of businesses to discriminate against same-sex couples and says that federal grants should be made available to faith-based groups that refuse to recognize same-sex marriage, specifically, groups that, “affirm that marriage is between not just any two adults, but one man and one unrelated woman.”
While acknowledging that this would violate the Respect for Marriage Act, which bans discrimination against same-sex couples, the document nonetheless calls for the government to “protect faith-based grant recipients that maintain a biblically based, social science–reinforced definition of marriage and family.”
Its policy proposals also demonize children raised in nontraditional households, stating, “Social science reports that assess the outcomes for children raised in homes aside from a heterosexual, intact marriage are clear: All other family forms involve higher levels of instability; financial stress or poverty; or poorer behavioral, psychological, or educational outcomes” which is a misstatement of the facts.
One especially alarming proposal is to criminalize transgender identity as pornography. This proposal likely takes its cue from Russia’s so-called gay propaganda bill passed in 2022, which bans all forms of what it refers to as LGBTQ “propaganda” and prohibits Russians from promoting same-sex relationships. Similarly, Project 2025 considers the “propagation of transgender ideology” to be pornography.
In fact, Christian Nationalist vision of the family is a key ingredient of the 922 page manual. According to Project 2025, not all families are created equal. On page 451, it defines the “right” kind of family as “a married mother, father, and their children.” It claims this is the “foundation of a well-ordered nation and a healthy society.” Yes, I could point to the similar propaganda that came out of Germany in the 1930’s, but I will refrain.
Promoting this biblical concept of family is cited as a top-five goal for a revamped Department of Health and Human Services, which it criticizes for “having lost its way” by “promoting equity in everything we do.”
The document says efforts at promoting diversity should be repealed and replaced with policies that support what it calls the formation of “stable, married, nuclear families.”
In other words, the authors of Project 2025 believe they have the right to dictate what your family should look like, extending the arm of government into your home — and into your bedroom — to enforce a Christian nationalist worldview. They consider this not just a policy preference, but a core function of governance itself.
To propel this view, Idaho lawmakers pushed forward a resolution to overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling on same sex marriage, arguing it’s an overstep of federal authority. The House State Affairs Committee’s decision prompted emotional testimony, with opponents stressing the importance of equal rights and questioning the historical misuse of states’ rights arguments. Both local and out-of-state voices, including those labeled as anti-LGBTQ+ groups, expressed their viewpoints. The resolution now heads to the full House for a vote, and it appears their main goal is to get to the Supreme Court so Obergefell v. Hodges can be overturned.
It should be noted that traditional families — people who are married with children — no longer make up the majority of family compositions in the U.S., according to recent polling by the Pew Research Center. This shift in family structures is due in part to more same-sex couples adopting children or starting their own families, reflecting the diverse and evolving landscape of today’s American society.
That diversity, according to the authors of Project 2025, poses a danger to “the very moral foundations of our society.”
The document lays out several proposals for undermining the rights of those who don’t fit the biblical definition of a family. For instance, it wants the government to protect the right of businesses to discriminate against same-sex couples and says that federal grants should be made available to faith-based groups that refuse to recognize same-sex marriage, specifically, groups that, “affirm that marriage is between not just any two adults, but one man and one unrelated woman.”
While acknowledging that this would violate the Respect for Marriage Act, which bans discrimination against same-sex couples, the document nonetheless calls for the government to “protect faith-based grant recipients that maintain a biblically based, social science–reinforced definition of marriage and family.”
Its policy proposals also demonize children raised in nontraditional households, stating, “Social science reports that assess the outcomes for children raised in homes aside from a heterosexual, intact marriage are clear: All other family forms involve higher levels of instability; financial stress or poverty; or poorer behavioral, psychological, or educational outcomes” which is a misstatement of the facts.
One especially alarming proposal is to criminalize transgender identity as pornography. This proposal likely takes its cue from Russia’s so-called gay propaganda bill passed in 2022, which bans all forms of what it refers to as LGBTQ “propaganda” and prohibits Russians from promoting same-sex relationships. Similarly, Project 2025 considers the “propagation of transgender ideology” to be pornography.
Horizons On Aging Conference
01/30/2025
Horizons on Aging Summit
Rainbow Elder Care, in association with United Church Homes, presents the 2025 LGBTQ+ Horizons on Aging Summit “Navigating Wellness and Nurturing Resilience in Uncharted Seas” on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
Registration opens at 9:15 am. The program begins at 9:45 am and runs to 5:00 PM.
The program will take place at the Dayton Metro Library, 215 E. Third St., Dayton, OH 45402. There will also be a Library Elder Awards Reception from 6:30 pm to 8:00 PM. Ample parking is available on the street and in the Library parking garage. Please place this event on your calendar as it will be a very enlightening.
Rainbow Elder Care, in association with United Church Homes, presents the 2025 LGBTQ+ Horizons on Aging Summit “Navigating Wellness and Nurturing Resilience in Uncharted Seas” on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
Registration opens at 9:15 am. The program begins at 9:45 am and runs to 5:00 PM.
The program will take place at the Dayton Metro Library, 215 E. Third St., Dayton, OH 45402. There will also be a Library Elder Awards Reception from 6:30 pm to 8:00 PM. Ample parking is available on the street and in the Library parking garage. Please place this event on your calendar as it will be a very enlightening.
Ohio Senate Bill 104
01/01/2025
Ohio Once Again Attacks the Most Vulnerable Among Us
by Randy Phillips
It seems this statement certainly applies to Ohio Senate Bill 104: It is not about bathrooms, just like it was never about water fountains. This bill, now law, is an attempt to legislate a whole group of people out of existence. After all, only 1.14% of all US citizens identify as transgender or nonbinary according to the US census bureau and with such a small percentage it is easy to demonize this group to excite fear, and fear, as we just witnessed, wins elections. The result is now Governor DeWine has signed into law SB 104 & HB 183 with requires all individuals in primary and secondary schools as well as institutions of higher learning to use the restrooms and other facilities that align with their sex assigned at birth.
For those of you who are not vary familiar with individuals who are transgender, Please trust me when I say that there are individuals who have transitioned some years ago, who look very opposite of what they were pronounced at birth. This is just an attempt to legislate a whole group of people out of existence. Just like the whole, “don’t say gay” bill that was introduced in Florida. For a point of reference, a like; don’t say gay bill has been reintroduced in Ohio. [We will keep you informed on that one.]
Jocelyn Rosnick, Policy Director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio said: “We are increasingly disheartened as the Ohio General Assembly’s continue to attacks against transgender and gender non-conforming individuals across Ohio. Senate Bill 104 is a cruel invasion of student’s rights to privacy, which could result in unwarranted governmental disclosures of private, perusal information. If allowed to go into effect;, SB 104 will create unsafe environments for trans and gender non=conforming individuals of all ages. This bill ignores the material reality that transgender people endure higher rates of sexual violence and assaults, particularly while using public restrooms, than people who are not transgender. All Ohioans deserve to access the facilities they need in alignment with their gender identity, without fear of harassment or bullying.”
by Randy Phillips
It seems this statement certainly applies to Ohio Senate Bill 104: It is not about bathrooms, just like it was never about water fountains. This bill, now law, is an attempt to legislate a whole group of people out of existence. After all, only 1.14% of all US citizens identify as transgender or nonbinary according to the US census bureau and with such a small percentage it is easy to demonize this group to excite fear, and fear, as we just witnessed, wins elections. The result is now Governor DeWine has signed into law SB 104 & HB 183 with requires all individuals in primary and secondary schools as well as institutions of higher learning to use the restrooms and other facilities that align with their sex assigned at birth.
For those of you who are not vary familiar with individuals who are transgender, Please trust me when I say that there are individuals who have transitioned some years ago, who look very opposite of what they were pronounced at birth. This is just an attempt to legislate a whole group of people out of existence. Just like the whole, “don’t say gay” bill that was introduced in Florida. For a point of reference, a like; don’t say gay bill has been reintroduced in Ohio. [We will keep you informed on that one.]
Jocelyn Rosnick, Policy Director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio said: “We are increasingly disheartened as the Ohio General Assembly’s continue to attacks against transgender and gender non-conforming individuals across Ohio. Senate Bill 104 is a cruel invasion of student’s rights to privacy, which could result in unwarranted governmental disclosures of private, perusal information. If allowed to go into effect;, SB 104 will create unsafe environments for trans and gender non=conforming individuals of all ages. This bill ignores the material reality that transgender people endure higher rates of sexual violence and assaults, particularly while using public restrooms, than people who are not transgender. All Ohioans deserve to access the facilities they need in alignment with their gender identity, without fear of harassment or bullying.”
Transgender Day of Remembrance
11/02/2024
November 20 - 7:00 PM - Sinclair CC
We are very please to announce our Keynote speaker for Transgender Day of Remembrance 2024 is singer/song-writer, dancer, model, actor and activist, Laith Ashley.
Transgender Day of Remembrance is an annual event here in Dayton to honor those transgender and non-conforming individuals who lost their lives in 2024 due to violence. All to often these individuals are estranged from their families so it is altogether fitting that we honor them and celebrate the life lived.
On November 20th at 7:00 pm at Sinclair Community College’s conference center we will read their names, and light a candle for these individuals. Additionally, Khris Goins, founder of Black Trans Men of Ohio will speak along with Judas, a 21 y.o. person, and Chrissy Ray, a trans female and of course our keynote speaker, Laith Ashley.
Laith launched his career with a campaign for Barneys New York, back in February 2014. In 2017 he was the first transgender man to be featured in a Diesel campaign, and in February 2020, became one of the faces of the Abercrombie FIERCE campaign. Laith has been on the cover of countless magazines and has had featured stories published in countless others all around the world. Laith was on the cast of reality TV series “Strut”, with executive producer by Whoopi Goldberg in 2016, and raised the heart rates of viewers in his appearances on season one of hit series, “Pose”, on FX, and Taylor Swift’s love interest in the music video for Lavender Haze.
Laith graduated Fairfield University in 2012 with a degree in Psychology. Before beginning his career in the entertainment industry, Laith was a counselor for homeless youth in New York City and spearheaded trans sensitivity training in medical facilities and homeless shelters. He now uses his platform to help inform others about the trans experience, and the experience of other marginalized groups, as well as advocating for social justice, in hopes for a more open, loving and accepting world. Tickets for this FREE event are available on our website.
8/4 Memorial
08/01/2024
8/4 Memorial
On August 4th, 2024, on the 5th anniversary of the mass shooting that took place in the Oregon District, ‘The Seeds of Life” memorial will be unveiled and dedicated. The design for this memorial was chosen by a committee made up of artist and community leaders to reflect creation, inspiration, and community growth since the horrific event that left 9 people dead, besides the assailant and many others injured.
“The memorial is to honor nine lives that were lost on August 4, 2019,” said Jes McMillan, executive director of the Mosaic Institute who has worked so diligently with her team to create a mosaic of healing and togetherness that provides the ground work before the 9 sculptures within the memorial along with the live plantings to represent those that were injured, and a large bench where people can sit and reflect.
“These things have a long-term impact. That is the only thing I can stress because I get that a lot, you know? Oh, it’s been going on for five years, you should feel better, or you should be doing alright. There is no time limit on trauma,” said Dion Green, mass shooting survivor.
Join us on August 4th, from 3-4 pm for the dedication of this historic piece. Next door to the Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth Street in the Oregon District. The artist team includes: Terry Welker, FAIA: architect/sculptor, team leader Sierra Leone: poet, educator, community builder Jes McMillan: artist, community builder, The Mosaic Institute James Pate: artist, designer, community builder
“This memorial will be an important step in the healing process as we remember those who were lost and grieve with those who were affected by this tragedy in the heart of our community,” said Sandy Hunt, memorial co-chair.
Funding for the 8/4 Memorial is possible thanks to the support from the CareSource Foundation, City of Dayton, Conor Group Kids & Community Partners, Dayton Children’s Hospital, Kettering Health Network, Montgomery County, Premier Health, Sinclair College, University of Dayton and donations from the Gem City Shine hosted by Dave Chappelle.
On August 4th, 2024, on the 5th anniversary of the mass shooting that took place in the Oregon District, ‘The Seeds of Life” memorial will be unveiled and dedicated. The design for this memorial was chosen by a committee made up of artist and community leaders to reflect creation, inspiration, and community growth since the horrific event that left 9 people dead, besides the assailant and many others injured.
“The memorial is to honor nine lives that were lost on August 4, 2019,” said Jes McMillan, executive director of the Mosaic Institute who has worked so diligently with her team to create a mosaic of healing and togetherness that provides the ground work before the 9 sculptures within the memorial along with the live plantings to represent those that were injured, and a large bench where people can sit and reflect.
“These things have a long-term impact. That is the only thing I can stress because I get that a lot, you know? Oh, it’s been going on for five years, you should feel better, or you should be doing alright. There is no time limit on trauma,” said Dion Green, mass shooting survivor.
Join us on August 4th, from 3-4 pm for the dedication of this historic piece. Next door to the Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth Street in the Oregon District. The artist team includes: Terry Welker, FAIA: architect/sculptor, team leader Sierra Leone: poet, educator, community builder Jes McMillan: artist, community builder, The Mosaic Institute James Pate: artist, designer, community builder
“This memorial will be an important step in the healing process as we remember those who were lost and grieve with those who were affected by this tragedy in the heart of our community,” said Sandy Hunt, memorial co-chair.
Funding for the 8/4 Memorial is possible thanks to the support from the CareSource Foundation, City of Dayton, Conor Group Kids & Community Partners, Dayton Children’s Hospital, Kettering Health Network, Montgomery County, Premier Health, Sinclair College, University of Dayton and donations from the Gem City Shine hosted by Dave Chappelle.
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.