Ben Jodway

1 week ago | thebuckeyeflame.com | Ben Jodway

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors in a 6-3 decision on Wednesday. Organizations around Ohio that support transgender rights condemned the ruling, with many calling it discriminatory and inconsistent with the Court’s Title IX ruling in 2020. According to the Associated Press, Chief Justice John Roberts said in the majority opinion that Tennessee’s law does not violate the Constitution’s equal protection clause. The decision on U.S. v.

1 week ago | thebuckeyeflame.com | Ben Jodway

Two years ago, Wadsworth, Ohio, saw armed Nazis descend on a drag storytelling hour. Now, the small Medina County town will see its first out nonbinary candidate on the November ballot. Angela “Gie” May is running for the Ward 4 seat on Wadsworth City Council. It’s their first run for office, but they have been a presence in the town’s politics for some time and have volunteered with multiple organizations such as Medina County Parks.

2 weeks ago | thebuckeyeflame.com | Ben Jodway

A board of education located between Toledo and Cleveland in rural Huron County threatened not to renew an award-winning choir director’s contract because he is engaged to a transgender man. South Central Local Schools Board of Education members resigned throughout the controversy around Alexander Kuhn, the 5th-12th grade choir director. By the time contract renewals ended, over half of the school board consisted of temporary replacement positions.

3 weeks ago | thebuckeyeflame.com | Ben Jodway

Pride celebrations in Columbus and Cleveland pull tens of thousands of attendees from across Ohio, but smaller, more rural Stark County seeks to bring just as much joy and resilience to its LGBTQ+ celebration. Stark Pride will be held rain or shine on Saturday June 14, with the walk stepping off from the Cultural Center for the Arts on Market Ave in Canton.

3 weeks ago | thebuckeyeflame.com | Ben Jodway

The Ohio city of Portsmouth is located in ruby-red Scioto County, but its city council has passed several progressive measures in the past five years. They include a COVID-19 mask mandate, establishing a local human rights commission and an anti-discrimination ordinance protecting the city’s Asian community. But a recent proposed resolution to declare Portsmouth welcoming to LGBTQ+ residents didn’t receive such a warm reception.