The lives of LGBTQ+ Americans are under greater threat in 2023 than at any point in the country's recent past. This summer, the Human Rights Campaign declared a "state of emergency" for LGBTQ+ people in America. The rights of parents to make gender-confirming decisions for their children, of drag artists to perform and for venues to host drag performances, and bans on school employees from discussing gender and sexuality with students are under currently attack through proposed legislation.

Simultaneously, the flames of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment are being fanned by calls for violence by far-right hate groups. Some Ohio lawmakers are also going on the offensive, recently introducing HB 245, which could charge drag performers with a felony if a juvenile is in attendance of a drag performance or the performance is considered "obscene."

How can anti-LGBTQ+ legislation co-exist with U.S. constitutional rights? Could passage of a Federal Equality Act explicitly prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ+ people serve to protect lives and rights of the LGBTQ+ community?

Our panelists are:

Khris Goins, President and Founder, Black Transmen of Ohio

J. Bennett Guess, Executive Director, ACLU of Ohio

Amanda Erickson, Director of Education & Outreach, Kaleidoscope Youth Center

Chris Equizi, Creator and Performer of Virginia West, and Show Director for District West

Our host is Ronald Murray, Associate Director of Health Advocacy, Equitas Health

This forum was sponsored by The Lynn Greer Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund, which celebrates inclusion and equity for the LGBTQ+ community, The United Way of Central Ohio, and Huckleberry House.

It was supported by The Ellis.

The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and by The Columbus Dispatch.

This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on October 18, 2023.