Ohio bill aims to ban drag shows, proposes felonies for ‘obscene’ performances

Ohio Republicans have introduced a bill to ban “harmful” drag shows — and propose felonies for “obscene” performances.

Reps. Josh Williams and Angela King on Monday introduced House Bill 245, which would ban “adult cabaret performances” as they are “harmful to juveniles” because they display “entertainers who exhibit gender identity that is different from the performers’ or entertainers’ gender assigned at birth.”

Drag shows would be banned from all locations outside of adult cabarets, meaning nightclubs, restaurants and more cannot host performances.

Williams and King’s bill garnered the support of 41 of the 67 House Republicans in the state.

If it passes, House Bill 245 would classify drag performances as a misdemeanor if a minor is present, a fifth-degree felony if the performance is “obscene” and a fourth-degree felony if it is “obscene” and in front of a minor under the age of 13.

Despite specifically targeting drag performances, Williams insisted the bill is not about disbanding the shows, but to prohibit performances that are “harmful to juveniles.”

“We’re saying, look, we want equality for all, we want everyone to be treated equally in the state of Ohio, that includes our entertainers,” he said. “You’re going to be held to the same standard, which is don’t engage in obscene conduct in the presence of a minor.

“The type of dancing, the type of attire that we typically would see in an adult gentlemen’s club where only adults are permitted, we are starting to see those in locations where minors are present.”

Corey Williams, who has been performing drag in Central Ohio for almost 25 years, has yet to witness an “obscene” drag performance and has never had anyone call one of his shows uncomfortable, he told NBC 4.

“As a drag performer, there is 100% nothing sexy that is about me, there are 14 layers of clothing on top of me to create the body, so they are trying to sexualize something that is not sexual,” he told the station.

“That’s insane, putting a penalty that harsh on someone’s art when there are people actually harming children and actually creating differences and hurt.”

The bill was modeled on Tennessee’s proposed ban, which has temporarily been blocked by a federal judge. District Judge Thomas Parker ruled the state’s bill was “unconstitutionally vague and substantially overbroad.”