Ohio Republicans introduce bill to protect parents who reject their trans children. Republican sponsor: ‘We’re fighting a war here.’ thebuckeyeflame.com/2026/02/12/o...

Worked with @hcomeriato.bsky.social and @kenschneck.bsky.social to get this one out. There's a lot of parts to this bill. We tried our best to break it down, show how legislators discussed it, and the resulting response from LGBTQ+ nonprofit organizations and leaders. Give it a read.

The phrase “small, organic, community-supported farms, run by trans and queer people” either invites “DUH,” or an eye-roll from conservatives. @dear-gazelle.bsky.social breaks down why queer folks are joining, and changing, agriculture.

BULLSEYE! Columbus Archery offers LGBTQ+ Ohioans healing, community and a new target 🎯 "This is a sport that was given to us by Black and brown people so long ago, so why aren’t more Black and brown people doing this?"

Lawsuit challenging sorority’s right to allow transgender members moves to Ohio federal court. Former Kappa Kappa Gamma members say they were wrongly removed for breaching sorority bylaws after protesting transgender inclusion. ✏️ @hcomeriato.bsky.social thebuckeyeflame.com/2026/02/09/k...

Tear gas is banned in international warfare, yet classified as a “riot control agent” that law enforcement can use for crowd control. “It just doesn’t work well, and it hits the weakest people the most, and causes the most complications in them,” an anesthesiology professor at Duke University said.

Several hundred people gathered at Public Square in downtown Cleveland Friday afternoon as part of the “ICE Out!” nationwide general strike. ➡️ thebuckeyeflame.com/2026/01/31/l...

Six providers in the Twin Cities area said no-show rates have increased for prenatal visits. Some patients, afraid of encountering law enforcement officials, are changing their delivery plans to opt for home births — sometimes without communicating it to providers.

The First Amendment fully protects our right to record ICE agents, police, FBI, National Guard troops, and other government officials performing their duties in public. Know your rights while filming, how to protect your digital privacy, and what to do if you're stopped or arrested for recording.

Citing fear of ICE, pregnant immigrants in Minnesota are -skipping prenatal care -requesting home births, even when not medically advised -going w/o adequate food Many are experiencing complications providers say can be stress-onset: diabetes, high blood pressure, and even water breaking early

Leaders urge LGBTQ+ Ohioans to protest ICE at national general strike rallies across the state. ‘Queer people need to show up because this is all connected.’ thebuckeyeflame.com/2026/01/29/l...

Several hundred people showed up to participate in the national general strike rally at Public Square in downtown Cleveland. Demonstrators changed Ohio’s famous call-and-response chant “OH-IO” to “OH-ICE OUT” as the state prepares for ICE agents to arrive in the city of Springfield early next week.

PLEASE SHARE WIDELY! HIRING: The Buckeye Flame seeks two Reporting Fellows to cover LGBTQ+ Ohioans of color. Pay for the six-month fellowship is $15,000 and applications are due by noon on February 13. thebuckeyeflame.com/2026/01/26/r...

"A Massive Victory": DOJ Drops Demands for Medical Records of LA Trans Minors

The shutdown of Wisconsin's version of C-SPAN amid a shortfall of fundraising has left the state as perhaps the only one in the country where its legislative floor debates are not being broadcast.

Out LGBTQ+ candidate Stephanie Thomas announces bid for Cuyahoga County Council. Thomas to campaign on rent control, senior services, labor relations and open office hours in District 3. ✏️ @hcomeriato.bsky.social thebuckeyeflame.com/2026/01/20/o...

Amid protests, City Club of Cleveland hosts Center for Christian Virtue www.clevescene.com/news/clevela...

The City Club of Cleveland hosted the president of an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group Friday following weeks of public backlash, drawing dozens of protesters. My latest for @thebuckeyeflame.com ➡️ thebuckeyeflame.com/2026/01/16/t...

The City Club of Cleveland hosts Center for Christian Virtue amid protests. Here’s what we saw inside AND outside the forum. thebuckeyeflame.com/2026/01/16/t...

Gender-based violence researchers told @19thnews.org that the widespread visibility of physical violence against women in public spaces does not happen in a vacuum and goes hand-in-hand with the policies and messaging coming from the administration. 19thnews.org/2026/01/ice-...

New Ohio research examines ‘predatory’ nature of alcohol ads targeting LGBTQ+ Ohioans. thebuckeyeflame.com/2026/01/13/n...

there’s still some good queer news out there folks!

INCREDIBLE STORY: Rural Ohio trans candidate nearly drops out of race after being targeted online, wins seat in Republican stronghold. ✏️ @bjodway.com via @reportforamerica.bsky.social thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/12/15/a...

An out nonbinary candidate just won a seat in their ruby-red Ohio town by 13 votes. They didn’t believe it, either. thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/12/09/g...

Ohio Attorney General weighs in on City Club of Cleveland’s decision to host anti-LGBTQ+ hate group. City Club CEO tells conservative outlet: ‘We’re not canceling.’ thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/12/11/o...

THE LATEST: Ohio LGBTQ+ leaders pen open letter denouncing City Club of Cleveland after forum books anti-LGBTQ+ hate group. The hate group also responded. LINK IN FIRST COMMENT. thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/12/09/o...

NEW EPISODE! - This News is So Gay (12/10/25): LGBTQ+ Tech Drama & More on Trump’s ‘Cancelation’ of World AIDS Day. Featuring: H.L. Comeriato (The Buckeye Flame), Juan Michael Porter II (The Sero Project) and Jasmine Mithani (The 19th). thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/12/10/t...

‘I witnessed evil’: Anti-LGBTQ+ hate groups support Ohio’s public drag ban. Ohio’s proposed drag ban received its second hearing Wednesday before members of the House Judiciary Committee. ✏️ @hcomeriato.bsky.social thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/10/30/a...

Ohio Republicans want to end emergency mental health services for minors in latest push for ‘parental rights.’ Eliminating access to temporary mental health care program for minors could place Ohio’s LGBTQ+ youth at risk. ✏️ @hcomeriato.bsky.social thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/10/23/o...

Sweet Spot revives Ohio’s underground party scene with the weirdest sapphic rave of the decade. Cleveland’s only sapphic rave injects a decades-old party scene with something ‘new and fresh and weird.’ ✏️ @hcomeriato.bsky.social thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/10/13/s...

Dayton Metro Library hosts free transgender history summit on October 4. ‘Don’t struggle alone in despair. Let’s strive together. Come fill your cup with hope and community.’ ✏️ @hcomeriato.bsky.social

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.

Two Ohio LGBTQ+ elected officials targeted online after Charlie Kirk’s death. The two office-holders experienced online harassment and a death threat leading to an FBI arrest. thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/09/17/t...

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.

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!

NEW EPISODE! This News is So Gay (8/20/25): Marriage Equality Fearmongering & Disappearing Queer Data. Featuring: @jazzmyth.bsky.social (@19thnews.org), @juanmichaelii.bsky.social (The Sero Project) and @hcomeriato.bsky.social (The Buckeye Flame) thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/08/20/t...

Hap-brie Sunday! We're so grate-ful that you sharp folks lived life on the wedge this week and ate up this gouda story! thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/08/15/m...

FDA approves new injectable HIV medication amid cuts to federal AIDS programs. Injection administered every six months will protect Ohioans from contracting HIV. ✏️ @hcomeriato.bsky.social thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/07/28/f...

Cleveland welcomes new WNBA franchise team, embraces out LGBTQ+ athletes. 3,000 season tickets sold in the first 30 hours: ‘We’re seeing a whole new audience stepping forward.’ ✏️ @hcomeriato.bsky.social thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/07/24/c...

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

Local AIDS activists deliver coffins to steps of Cleveland City Hall. ACT UP Cleveland performs ‘political funeral’ amid federal cuts to HIV/AIDS funding. ✏️ @hcomeriato.bsky.social

Experts say rash of Pride flag vandalism across Ohio points to shifting trend in anti-LGBTQ+ violence. Read all about what anti-LGBTQ+ incidents can tell us about cultural ‘turf wars’ in Ohio and beyond. ✏️ @hcomeriato.bsky.social 🗣️ @glaad.bsky.social thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/05/19/o...

On April 29, members of the Ohio House General Government Committee heard public testimony on Ohio House Bill (HB) 196, which could force some transgender candidates to out themselves in order to run for public office and could increase challenges to their candidacies. ✏️ @hcomeriato.bsky.social

While this report presents itself as an apolitical “review of evidence and best practices,” it deserves the same scrutiny and careful fact-checking as any government-produced document. Journalists should quote it only with appropriate context and after thorough vetting.

The actual findings of the new HHS gender-affirming care report don’t really line up with what the agency is saying about it.

Ohio ACT UP chapter meets to discuss ‘shocking’ leaked budget that slashes HIV/AIDS funding. AIDS advocacy group pushes for strategic plan to keep Ohioans living with HIV on life-saving medications. ✏️ @hcomeriato.bsky.social

Ohio Supreme Court allows ban on gender-affirming health care for transgender minors to continue. Following months in court, Ohio’s ban on health care for trans youth with take effect after a new high court ruling thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/04/29/o...

New toolkit outlines roadmap for Ohio schools before anti-LGBTQ+ forced outing law takes effect. HB 8 will affect school communities across the state beginning in July. Here’s what to expect and how to respond. ✏️ @hcomeriato.bsky.social

A pair of Republican lawmakers have proposed legislation that could force trans candidates to disclose their former legal names in order to run for public office. Conservative Reps. Rodney Creech & Angie King each faced transgender opponents in the 2024 general election. ✏️ @hcomeriato.bsky.social

"They want us dead": Ohio AIDS activist makes desperate call to action amid federal funding cuts "They are not coming for your pronouns. They are coming for your life." ✏️ @hcomeriato.bsky.social