Reviving Gay Fad Studios: How an LGBTQ+ couple created a midcentury glass destination in central Ohio. ‘This is so much more than a business for us. It’s about being bold and dreaming big.’ ✏️ @hcomeriato.bsky.social penning an INCREDIBLE read.

This is an AMAZING feature by my colleague @hcomeriato.bsky.social packed full of history and queer joy!

It's only thanks to the support of our subscribers that we can run freelance pieces like this, and I always want to do more! Help me live my dream! aftermath.site/products

Stepped outside of my comfort zone to write this story about a really cool group of players in a military simulation video game! Absolute pleasure to work with @aftermath.site and @rcmacleod.bsky.social. Please give it a read!

A new bipartisan bill seeks to reinstate the national suicide hotline services for LGBTQ+ youth that Trump cut. This is an especially vulnerable group who are now without specialized 988 services at a time when they need it most.

Highlighting this story today as more high-profile figures being targeted or fired for their speech. This stuff is impacting people at the local level too.

This News is So Gay (9/17/25): Navigating Rapid Response to LGBTQ+ News (While Staying Sane) Featuring: @jacobreyesdfw.bsky.social (@glaad.bsky.social), @danapiccoli.com (@newsisout.bsky.social) & Spencer Macnaughton (@unclosetedmedia.bsky.social). We needed this episode this particular week.

Ohio county’s LGBTQ+ organization cuts support groups, events due to lack of funds. LGBTQ+ Allies of Lake County coffers are running dry after Trump’s election. thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/09/16/l... ✏️ @bjodway.com via @reportforamerica.bsky.social.

COURT: You can now say “GAY” on your Ohio license plate. An Ohioan sued after he applied for a license plate reading “GAY” through the Ohio BMV and the plate was immediately rejected as “Inappropriate/Invalid.” thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/09/15/c... #JustSayGay #Ohio #LGBTQ

Super happy to be on another episode of this fantastic podcast!!

Good morning friends, I've got some ✨ news ✨ www.propublica.org/atpropublica...

Cuyahoga County unanimously passes Ohio’s first county-wide ban targeting conversion therapy on minors. Penalties include fines and losing license to practice. ✏️ @hcomeriato.bsky.social & @bjodway.com (via @reportforamerica.bsky.social) thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/09/09/c...

‘We really needed this in Waverly’: Ohio teen starts LGBTQ+ organization in a tiny rural village. 19-year-old Reece Johnson started Haven 740 last June to create a “safe, welcoming space” in Waverly. ✏️ @bjodway.com via @reportforamerica.bsky.social thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/09/09/h...

Sweep people out, then fine them for trying to survive. Sutter County just raised penalties for unauthorized camping. “Law enforcement, they seem to bully us and, like, target us,” said one unhoused resident. Read my story for the Appeal here: www.appeal-democrat.com/news/local_n...

NEW EPISODE! This News is So Gay: We chat with Tracy Baim, LGBTQ+ journalism legend, about making queer newsrooms work, the future of queer journalism and how to not take things so damn personally. thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/09/03/t...

A homophobic billboard in Ohio pissed her off. So this straight ally leapt into action to install a message of love. thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/09/02/h...

Higher ed association will no longer host conferences in Ohio due to state’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws. International Studies Association leadership sent a letter to Gov. Mike DeWine explaining that the state’s laws make Ohio too dangerous for their members. ✏️ @bjodway.com via @reportforamerica.bsky.social

Wrote for @newrepublic.com about how this was the obvious endpoint and not an aberration of the national security state, as many of us have been screaming for years. If we ever get out of this mess, we must recognize that leaving the tools of authoritarianism laying around means they’ll be used

Anti-yoga Ohio pastors send letter to Kroger CEO decrying LGBTQ+ support. No downward dog in schools, and no ‘woke’ groceries. ✏️ @bjodway.com via @reportforamerica.bsky.social thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/08/18/o...

Instead of doomscrolling, maybe read this instead?

In case you missed it… we just launched our merch store! Come nab some Buckeye Flame goodies!!

How Ohio’s viral lesbian cheesemonger is changing the industry one wheel at a time. ‘I just love introducing people to that one cheese that ends up being their gateway cheese into this world.’ thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/08/15/m...

Really fun story! Read some queer joy today :))

NEW EPISODE! - This News is So Gay: LGBTQ+ Immigration Issues & a D.C. Memo That Only Benefits…White Men? Featuring: Gisselle Medina (@fresnoland.bsky.social), @felipedlh.bsky.social (@thenewrepublic.bsky.social) & @kalish.bsky.social (@huffpost.com) Hosted by: @kenschneck.bsky.social

As proposed statewide LGBTQ+ equality falters, Ohio LGBTQ+ advocates question: Is local action the only viable option? Local organizers are taking LGBTQ+ equality into their own hands as state lawmakers fail to advance a single pro-LGBTQ+ bill. thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/08/06/s...

LGBTQ+ Spectrum of Findlay officially shuts down as a statewide org steps in. “While Spectrum will no longer be operating, our love for this community remains unwavering.” ✏️ @bjodway.com via @reportforamerica.bsky.social thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/08/05/s...

Ohio organizers move forward with two separate amendments to ban discrimination, approve marriage equality. The decision follows a move by the Republican-controlled Ballot Board to double the work for organizers. thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/07/31/o...

So happy to join Ken and other amazing guests for this episode!

“Better Together”: How an Ohio couple overcame struggles and found strength in a mixed-orientation marriage. An Ohio husband and pastor came out as gay to his straight wife. Today, they are together and stronger in their rainbow family. ✏️ @bjodway.com via @reportforamerica.bsky.social

So excited to share my colleague @hcomeriato.bsky.social’s piece on Cleveland’s WNBA team! They’ve worked on this for a while, so please give it a read!

Columbus City Council votes to create Ohio’s second LGBTQ+ Affairs Commission. City Council unanimously approved the ordinance. ✏️ @bjodway.com via @reportforamerica.bsky.social thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/07/15/c...

Columbus holds first public hearing on proposed LGBTQ+ Affairs Commission. Applications for appointment could open as early as fall, with the commission starting by year’s end. ✏️ @bjodway.com via @reportforamerica.bsky.social. thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/07/11/c...

CCV purchased a building across from the Ohio Statehouse, which “signifies the importance of having a strong Christian voice in not just Ohio politics but in American politics," according to the president of the org. Great reporting from my colleague, @hcomeriato.bsky.social.

If you're trans and you rely on Medicaid for your health care coverage, I'd like to talk to you! I'm on Signal at @orionr.80 — always glad to talk through what it means to do an interview with a reporter and any safety concerns you may have. Also glad to talk with LGBTQ+ folks in general here

So excited to see this podcast's first episode get out there! Please give it a listen!

Ohio LGBTQ+ youth left hanging by Trump’s cut to end 988 suicide and crisis hotline for queer community. A new study shows that rural LGBTQ+ youth rely more on online support than their urban peers. ✏️ @bjodway.com

Ohio governor vetoes LGBTQ+ book restrictions, keeps trans erasure language in budget. Gov. Mike DeWine also vetoed language that would defund homeless shelters supporting trans youth. thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/07/01/o...

This bill and other like it are making their way through the Ohio Statehouse. We cover stuff like this *extensively* at @thebuckeyeflame.com. Here's a link to our anti-LGBTQ+ legislative guide: thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/06/23/2...

NEW: A WIRED investigation of 911 calls placed from ICE detention sites across the US show a system inundated by life-threatening crises, delayed treatment, and overcrowding. By me & @dmehro.bsky.social. Free to read:

Although the U.S. v Skrmetti ruling dealt a painful blow to families of trans kids — the fight is not over, LGBTQ+ rights attorneys say. The court's opinion provides a road map to other strategies to fight gender-affirming care bans and other anti-trans laws. Read the rest of my story here:

Great reporting by my colleague, @hcomeriato.bsky.social.

Some good news this morning!

Columbus announces creation of city’s first-ever LGBTQ+ Affairs Commission. Cincinnati helped pave the way by establishing a similar LGBTQ+ commission in March. thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/06/13/c...

Ohio school choir director’s job threatened because he was engaged to a transgender man. South Central Local Schools Board of Education was poised to remove the choir director, but backed off. ✏️ @bjodway.com thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/06/13/s...

The White House has officially proposed cutting 988 suicide hotline services for LGBTQ youth – services that were required by legislation Trump signed into law in 2020. @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...

A bipartisan group of legislators just introduced an Ohio hate crimes bill. Does it protect LGBTQ+ Ohioans? It depends who you ask. Sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression are notably not mentioned in the bill. ✏️ @kenschneck.bsky.social thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/06/04/o...

CALLING ALL LGBTQ+ OHIO PODCAST HOSTS & LISTENERS! We're putting together a list of LGBTQ+ Ohio podcasts and want to hear your favorites! SHARE PODCAST INFORMATION VIA EMAIL: [email protected] Deadline for submissions: Wednesday, June 11.

Portsmouth City Council had a progressive voting record, but confusion and misinformation didn’t help an LGBTQ+ "Sanctuary City" campaign to declare “inclusivity, equality and justice for all.” #Ohio #LGBTQ ✏️ @bjodway.com

Pride Month is kicking off in Columbus with the city recognizing two LGBTQ+ residents with the Shellabarger Illuminator Award. Former Columbus City Councilperson Mary Jo Hudson & LGBTQ+ advocate Tom Grote have been named the 2025 recipients of the annual honor. thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/05/31/c...

🧵MEGA THREAD: I'm tracking the far right anti-LGBTIQ groups targeting LGBTIQ events during Pride Month. Also, how are organizations, corporations, and lawmakers responding to the Trump Administration and Republicans' ongoing efforts to erase and criminalize the transgender and queer community.