Rep. Sigrist: Rejects HB 249, Calls Out "Performative Neutrality" in Controversial Bill

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Mark Sigrist (D-Grove City) on Wednesday condemned the passage of House Bill (HB) 249 which restricts drag shows to certain locations and creates a new definition for “adult cabaret performances”.

“Let’s be honest about what this bill does,” said Representative Sigrist. “It singles out our neighbors and tells them: you are different, and you are not welcome in our community. That is what ‘othering’ looks like, no matter how carefully it’s dressed up. The only thing this bill adds to Ohio law is the ability to discriminate against those whose clothes and appearance don’t match their biological sex, threatening an already marginalized community into hiding. I have met the people this bill will affect, and they deserve a government that sees them fully, not one that politely denies prejudice while quietly codifying it.”

HB 249 would prohibit a person from engaging in an “adult cabaret performance” outside of certain establishments that regularly feature nudity or sexual exhibits or performances. While the new definition of “adult cabaret performance” does include nude performances, the bill also includes entertainers “who exhibit a gender identity that is different from [their] biological sex using clothing [or] makeup”. Penalties for performances outside of designated areas would range from a first-degree misdemeanor to a fourth-degree felony, depending on the offense.

Proponents of HB 249 have claimed that the bill is necessary to protect the innocence of children; however, under Ohio law, it is already illegal to allow juveniles to view live performances that are obscene or harmful. Opponents of the bill argue that the overly broad definition of adult cabaret performances incites First Amendment concerns as the bill can be interpreted to fit numerous types of performances including those which do not exhibit nudity or overtly sexual acts.

HB 249 now heads to the Senate.