Ohio: Drag is not a crime
Campaign content
What you wear should not be a crime.
But right now, the Ohio state government is attempting to dictate how every citizen – regardless of their gender – dresses and expresses themselves in public.
In March 2026, the Ohio House passed House Bill 249. While the bill specifically targets drag performers and gender-nonconforming people by lumping them in with "adult cabaret," it goes even further. By rewriting state law to replace "private parts" with the vague term "private areas," this bill creates a terrifying precedent for state overreach.
Legal experts warn that this vague language could be used to harass women for going braless, wearing sports bras, or dressing in any way the state deems "indecent." It turns police officers into fashion critics with the power to arrest you.
For the LGBT+ community, the stakes are even higher. HB 249 effectively makes it a felony for trans or gender-nonconforming people to simply exist in public spaces if their appearance doesn't fit a rigid, state-mandated definition.
This is unconstitutional censorship. From local theaters to public parks, the right to freedom of expression is under direct attack. We cannot allow the state to use "indecent exposure" as a weapon to erase people from public life.
We call on the Ohio Senate and Governor to:
Reject HB 249 and protect the civil liberties of all Ohioans.
Defend the First Amendment: Ensure that artistic expression, including drag, remains protected from government harassment.
Protect the dignity of all: End the targeted persecution of gender-nonconforming individuals.
The government should protect the people, not police their wardrobes.
Sign now to demand that Ohio lawmakers vote NO on HB 249.
We urge you to reject House Bill 249 and uphold the fundamental civil rights of all Ohio residents.
This legislation, under the guise of "modernization," introduces dangerously vague definitions that threaten the freedom of expression and the privacy of every citizen. By expanding the definition of "indecent exposure" to include "private areas" and "gender-atypical" attire, HB 249 invites arbitrary police enforcement and state-sponsored harassment.
Individual liberty means the right to exist in public without the government policing your clothing or your identity.
We urge you to:
Vote NO on HB 249: Stop this dangerous expansion of state power over personal expression and public appearance.
Protect the First Amendment: Recognize that drag and all forms of performance art are protected speech, not "indecency."
Prevent State Overreach: Reject the vague "private areas" language that could criminalize everyday attire, such as sports bras or bralessness.
Veto Discriminatory Laws: Refuse to sign any legislation that uses "protection" as a pretext to strip citizens of their dignity and civil rights.
The government’s job is to serve the people, not to regulate their personal expression.
Act now to protect freedom in Ohio.
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