Ohio House Passes Controversial Drag Performance Ban

The bill targets transgender Ohioans and could criminalize public gender expression

Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:26am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Ohio House has voted to advance a bill that would ban public drag and gender performances, with the legislation disproportionately affecting LGBTQ+ individuals. The bill, known as the 'Enact the Indecent Exposure Modernization Act', passed the House by a vote of 63-30 and will now head to the state Senate.

Why it matters

The bill has drawn widespread criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates who argue it unfairly targets transgender and gender non-conforming people, restricting their ability to express their identity in public. The legislation could also have broader implications for fundamental freedoms and safety.

The details

The bill, sponsored by conservative Christian Rep. Josh Williams, would ban drag and gender performances outside of 'adult cabaret' venues or in any public venue where a minor may be present. It also includes language that could help criminalize trans and gender non-conforming people who use gendered public facilities. Williams has cited an incident at a YMCA in Xenia, Ohio, where a transgender person was sued after attempting to change their clothing in a communal locker room, as justification for the bill.

  • The Ohio House voted to advance the bill on April 1, 2026.
  • The bill will now head to the state Senate for consideration.

The players

Ohio House Bill (HB) 249

The bill that would ban public drag and gender performances in Ohio.

Rep. Josh Williams

The conservative Christian lawmaker who is the primary sponsor of the bill.

Rep. Angie King

The co-sponsor of the bill who discussed the Xenia YMCA lawsuit at length.

Dwayne Steward

The executive director and CEO of Equality Ohio and Equality Ohio Education Fund, who condemned the bill in a written statement.

Rep. Dontavious L. Jarrells

The Democratic lawmaker who rose in stark opposition to the bill, noting its potential to dehumanize transgender and gender non-conforming individuals.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This bill takes regular, everyday activities and turns them into potential crimes, based on whether somebody else might be offended by what other people are wearing. This bill gives government the unacceptable power to police what people wear.”

— Dwayne Steward, Executive director and CEO of Equality Ohio and Equality Ohio Education Fund

“This bill is not about children. This is about the dehumanization of people who do not look like me. This bill literally singles out people who are trans, those who are gender non-conforming, and basically calls into question, 'Should you exist in the public eye?' That is the reality of this bill. When you talk about what this bill really is, it is an attack on human lives.”

— Rep. Dontavious L. Jarrells, Democratic lawmaker

What’s next

The bill will now move to the Ohio Senate for consideration. If passed, it would then head to the governor's desk for signature or veto.

The takeaway

This controversial legislation has sparked outrage from LGBTQ+ advocates who argue it unfairly targets and criminalizes the public expression of gender identity, raising concerns about fundamental freedoms and safety for transgender and gender non-conforming Ohioans.