Testify: When Queer Ohioans Confronted the Man Trying to Erase Them with Ken Schneck

Our guest is Ken Schneck, the founder and editor of the Buckeye Flame, a statewide LGBTQ+ news site in Ohio. We discuss how the publication began in 2020 and why he felt there needed to be a dedicated source covering LGBTQ+ issues across Ohio.The mission of the Buckeye Flame is to amplify LGBTQ+ Ohioans and support civic engagement. It encourages readers to submit local stories, including from rural parts of the state, and how that approach has expanded the range of reporting they receive. They also want people to freely share the articles with others.The main reason we produced this episode was to talk about the recent coverage of House Bill 249, the proposed drag ban in Ohio. We discuss testimony from LGBTQ+ people who appeared before the Ohio House Judiciary Committee, including the tense exchange between Representative Josh Williams and witnesses who spoke against the bill. We focus on how the hearing affected people testifying from their lived experience and professional expertise.House Bill 249 not only connects to drag performances but also to transgender people being in public spaces. We discuss concerns raised in the hearing about vague legal language, enforcement, and the possibility of chilling speech and discouraging public expression.We also talk about the history and future of LGBTQ+ media in Ohio and the publication’s efforts to expand coverage of LGBTQ+ Ohioans of color.01:00 Origins of The Buckeye Flame and mission05:54 When Queer Ohioans Confronted the Man Trying to Erase Them10:19 Two Clips from the HB 249 hearing on 03/18/202629:10 Main Interview resumesFull show notes & Links UsedSubscribe to our free newsletterCheck out our merch