Hundreds gathered Thursday evening for the State of the LGBTQ+ Community of Greater Cleveland, an event centered around urgent calls for action in response to a series of legislative proposals impacting the LGBTQ+ community in Ohio. The two-hour event, hosted by the LGBTQ Community Center of Greater Cleveland, highlighted critical discussions surrounding four bills currently in play at the Ohio Statehouse: two House Bills (HB 68, HB 8) and two Senate Bills (SB 104, SB 1).
One of the most controversial pieces of legislation is HB 68, which went into effect in April 2024 and bans gender-affirming care for minors. HB 8, effective April 9, 2025, mandates that schools notify parents if their child identifies as LGBTQ+. SB 104, which was enacted on February 25, bans gender-inclusive restrooms in schools, including at the collegiate level. Meanwhile, SB 1, which passed the Senate on February 12, is currently being reviewed by a House Committee and seeks to ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in higher education.
Phyllis Harris, Executive Director of the LGBTQ Community Center of Greater Cleveland, spoke passionately about the bills’ implications, emphasizing the community’s determination to resist these measures. “The current bans that are happening are definitely about making us feel afraid, but we know we have civil rights as human beings. We’re going to lean into that knowledge. We’re going to lean into our power. We’re going to lean into our resistance, and we’re going to fight for our lives,” Harris declared.
Throughout the evening, Harris and other speakers discussed how these legislative efforts not only target the LGBTQ+ community but also women and people of color. “We’re ready to stand up to that ban. We’re ready to get to our policymakers. We’re ready to withhold our vote and we’re just ready to tell them no, we’re not going,” Harris continued. The event served as a rallying point, marking the beginning of a broader movement to challenge these proposals.
However, not all attendees shared the same view of the legislation. Keith Migra, a local podcaster and member of the Lorain County Young Republicans, offered a different perspective on the bills. While he expressed full support for LGBTQ+ rights, he argued that the focus has shifted from these core issues to broader concerns involving other “alphabetical letters” that are often associated with LGBTQ+ causes. “We feel like it’s more hindering women’s rights and it’s more hindering the LGBT community than it is anything else,” Migra said, referring to the legislative measures.
Migra suggested that the conversation should be reframed as a mental health issue rather than a rights issue. “Is it that trans people feel like they have no rights or is it that there’s a mental health issue that we want to help address?” he asked. He expressed concern that current discussions are framed in a way that vilifies those with opposing views, rather than fostering understanding. “It comes off like we’re damning people and I don’t think that’s how we should feel anymore,” he added.
On the subject of SB 1, Migra voiced his support for the bill, which seeks to ban DEI programs at the collegiate level. “I want somebody who’s best qualified,” he stated. “Let’s not base it on race. Let’s base it on qualifications.” Migra emphasized the importance of merit-based selection, regardless of race, and aligned himself with former President Donald Trump’s interpretation of the Constitution, noting, “It doesn’t say life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness if you’re white. It doesn’t say life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness if you’re black.”
In contrast, Harris defended the need for DEI programs, asserting that they are crucial for ensuring opportunity and inclusivity in society. “Diversity, equity and inclusion is not just a business proposition. It is the way that we are going to live and, in order to survive and thrive, it’s needed,” she said.
In a poignant message to those supporting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, Harris urged them to consider the broader impact of these laws. “These are your children. They’re talking about your neighbors. They’re talking about people that you care about, people who are afraid to come out, people who will eventually come out. So what are you going to do? What side of history do you really want to be on?” she asked, challenging the audience to reflect on their stance in the fight for civil rights.
The event underscored the growing divide in Ohio’s legislative landscape and the ongoing battle for LGBTQ+ rights in the state. As these bills continue to progress, the Greater Cleveland LGBTQ+ community remains steadfast in its commitment to fighting for equality and justice. For anyone wishing to follow Ohio Legislation, please use this link: Ohio Legislature – 136th General Assembly.