Ohio House Bill 249 (HB 249), titled “Enact the Indecent Exposure Modernization Act,” aims to amend current indecent exposure laws in Ohio, though not without pushback.

The bill, currently moving through the Senate after being passed by the House of Representatives, has sparked controversy due to its legal association of drag performances with adult performances of a sexual nature, such as prostitution and stripping.

This legislation would ban public drag performances on the premise of protecting children. According to Rep. Angela King (R), sponsor of the bill, the goal is to prevent children from “premature sexualization and erosion of their innocence.”

While drag performances are not always sexual in nature, the bill would prevent even non-sexual performances from taking place in public by classifying the act of exhibiting a gender identity different from one’s biological sex as obscene.

Jordan Musgrave, president of BGO Pride, a Bowling Green-based organization that provides resources and support for the LGBTQ+, opposes the bill.

“This legislation ultimately undermines the well-being, rights and stability of the communities it impacts,” Musgrave said in a statement.

Musgrave believes the bill will move the state in the wrong direction, hindering the growth of the economy and community by prioritizing the wrong issues.

“Rather than advancing meaningful progress, it introduces uncertainty and potential harm without adequately addressing the broader needs of Ohio residents,” Musgrave said.

According to Musgrave, the state government should focus policymaking on promoting equity, supporting working families and policies that “reflect the values of all Ohioans.”

As of right now, the bill has been introduced to the Senate for review. If it is passed by the Senate, it will be sent to Governor Mike DeWine to be signed into law or vetoed.

The status of this bill can be tracked at https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb249.