Arienne Childrey Strongly Condemns Passage of the So-Called “Indecent Exposure Modernization Act” – Ohio’s Gender Non-Conformity Criminalization Act

COLUMBUS, OH – Today, the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 249, the so-called “Indecent Exposure Modernization Act,” largely along party lines. No Democrats supported the bill, while one Republican voted against it. As the Democratic candidate for the Ohio House of Representatives in the 84th District—challenging sponsor Rep. Angie King—I completely condemn, in the strongest possible terms, this reckless and blatantly unconstitutional bill that criminalizes gender non-conformity and targets drag performers and transgender Ohioans.

This bill is a house of cards, built on a foundation of lies. Contrary to the sponsors’ claims, HB 249 does not simply criminalize “indecent” drag performances. It explicitly defines any performance in which a person “exhibits a gender identity that is different from the performer’s or entertainer’s biological sex using clothing, makeup, prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts, or other physical markers" as inherently “indecent.” This is a direct assault on Ohioans’ First Amendment freedom of expression and a shameful dereliction of the sponsors’ sworn duty to defend both the United States and Ohio Constitutions.

If this bill becomes law, it will spark expensive constitutional lawsuits that waste taxpayer dollars on needless legal battles. Worse, it will have a chilling effect on free speech, leaving transgender Ohioans vulnerable to systemic targeting and prosecution for “public indecency” simply for existing in public. It is nothing short of a deliberate attempt to force transgender Ohioans out of the public square and into hiding.

Sponsor Rep. Josh Williams has claimed this bill was needed because, according to him, it would be a criminal offense for a minor to enter a strip club but the same performance could occur in the parking lot with no violation. This is a blatant and outright lie. Public stripping and indecent exposure are already illegal under current Ohio law.

Sponsor Rep. Angela King (R-Celina), my opponent in the 84th District and known for protesting local Pride events alongside Christian Nationalists and White Supremacists, cited Celina’s Pride Celebration as inspiration for this bill. She claimed to have witnessed “indecent” performances that the bill would supposedly ban. As someone who has attended every Celina Pride event since its inception, I can state firsthand that no such indecent performances took place. The drag shows featured outfits no more revealing than cheerleading uniforms or gymnastics attire at public school events.

Angie Protesting Small Town Pride 2023

Aryan Nations Protesting Small Town Pride 2023

Rep. King has further stated that similar routines by straight, cisgender men dressing as women for charity would not be impacted. This exposes the sponsors’ true intent: the bill does not target the conduct or the outfits—it targets the performer. If cheerleaders, gymnasts, and straight men in similar attire are not considered indecent, but LGBTQ+ performers are, then this is not about protecting public morals. It is about criminalizing LGBTQ+ Ohioans based on who they are.

I urge every Ohioan—especially voters in the 84th District—to contact their State Senators and demand they reject this blatantly unconstitutional attack. I also thank the hundreds of Ohioans who, over three years and two sessions of the General Assembly, have called their representatives, submitted written testimony, testified in person, organized protests, and stood up against this bill. You have done far more to protect and defend the Constitution than any Republican in the Ohio Statehouse.

An Ohio Drag Ban will do nothing to improve the lives of families in Auglaize, Darke, and Mercer Counties. It won’t lower gas prices, cap insulin costs, bring down grocery bills, expand affordable housing, protect family farms, provide quality in-home care for seniors, or ensure fully funded public education. It serves only to divide Ohioans, scapegoat marginalized communities, and distract from the Ohio GOP’s failure to deliver real solutions.

To Rep. Angie King and the Ohio GOP, who are desperately trying to shove LGBTQ+ Ohioans out of public life: it won’t work. We didn’t simply come out of the closet—we ripped the door off its hinges. We will never again allow you to silence us or force us into the shadows. This is our state as much as it is yours. When history records this chapter, your actions will not be judged kindly. You will stand in the company of bigots who have long exploited minority communities to advance their own ambitions.

Ohio’s 84th District deserves a representative who fights for every constituent, defends constitutional rights, and focuses on the real issues that matter—not one who sponsors discriminatory legislation to target and divide us.

About Arienne Childrey

Arienne Childrey is Ohio’s first openly transgender city council member, a former council member from St. Marys, and the current Vice Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party Pride Caucus. As the Democratic candidate for Ohio House District 84, she is committed to defending constitutional freedoms, lowering costs for working families, supporting local agriculture, expanding access to healthcare and housing, and ensuring every voice is heard in Columbus. For more information, visit arichildrey.com or follow on X at

@Ari4Ohio

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