Best for:
Transgender individuals, gender nonconformists, intersex individuals, queer folk, advocates, socio-politically involved people, and those who want to stop HB249.
The Record of Our Existence –
Ohio HB 249 Senate, 2026:
On March 14th, 2026, I sent my testimony into the House of Representatives as HB 249’s time to sink or swim was approaching.
House bill 249 is a “model bill” designed to push the trans community, gender nonconformists, and drag artists alike out of public life. Attempting to do so by using vague “adult cabaret” language to criminalize our presence. While the House vote was 63–30 in their favor, the fight has now reset.
HB 249 is officially in the hands of the Ohio Senate. This is where we build our firewall.
I am sharing the original House testimony I submitted, here to show you that advocacy is a tangible, documented act. We are not just screaming into a void; we are putting our names, our businesses, and our stories on the permanent record.
Yelling
– Earth to Eve
Free speech
But controlling what the news say
The Lorax called, it’s time to find a new shade
Ru Paul’s never seen a beat that bad on drag race
The Blueprint – My House Testimony Receipts:
“You can't really know where you are going until you know where you have been,” so said the late, great Maya Angelou.
I put my business, Poeaxtry, and my name on the official record to further prove that transgender and gender nonconforming individuals are here to stay, as we always have been. Our community cannot and will not be ignored.
How Allies & Family Build the Defense:
Ohio HB 249 Senate, 2026:
In Ohio we are pivoting to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and this time, we need a broader coalition. If you are an ally, a parent, or a concerned neighbor, your role is to change the narrative.
- 1. Break the “Common Sense” Propaganda:
The proponents of this bill claim it is about “protecting children.” Our most useful move is to show people other actual people’s testimony.
When you show a person the actual legal definitions, they can see the overreach for what it is. Education is the first step toward stopping the Senate from moving this bill to a floor vote.
- 2. The Ally Advantage:
Advocates, allied people, and family members in support of transgender individuals and other people who don’t conform to gender norms, have a unique power to combat Ohio HB 249 Senate, 2026.
When you testify, you are telling the Committee that this bill doesn’t just “protect” some families; it threatens all families by giving the state the power to decide who is “obscene.” Your testimony proves that the trans community is supported by a network of voters that the Senate cannot afford to alienate.
Submitting Your Senate Testimony in Opposition of Ohio HB 249 Senate, 2026:
The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Nathan Manning, is where this bill must be stopped. Here is how we flood their office with “oppositional” testimony.
The 24-Hour Rule
In the Senate, your testimony and the Witness Information Form must be emailed to the Chair’s office at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled hearing. This is a strict deadline; if the meeting is at 9:45 AM on a Wednesday, your email needs to be sent by Tuesday morning.
Drafting Your Statement
- The Salutation: “Chairman Manning, Vice Chair Reynolds, Ranking Member Hicks-Hudson, and members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.”
- The Position: Clearly state at the beginning: “I am writing as an Opponent to HB 249.”
- The Personal Touch: Talk about your life in Ohio. If you are a parent in Newark or a shift worker in Belmont County, mention it. Senators should care about their constituents.
- The Ask: Explicitly tell them: “I urge you to vote NO on HB 249 and keep this bill from reaching the Senate floor.”
Please explain it to me
-Earth to Eve
The man in charge of the economy’s
Got 6 bankruptcies
Asking ChatGPT
To define GDP
Defunding education, when half the country can’t read
Well now its clicking for me
You need the people asleep
And knowledge is the greatest threat to propaganda machines
Support the Opposition of Ohio HB 249 Senate, 2026:
- Join a Lobby Day: Collective Physical Presence
A “Lobby Day” is not just a meeting; it is a show of force. When groups like Equality Ohio or the ACLU of Ohio organize these days, they provide the training and the talking points you need to walk into a Senator’s office with confidence.
Why it works: Legislators see hundreds of people in the same colored shirts walking the halls; it reminds them that their “yes” vote has a human cost.
What you do: Sign up for the Equality Ohio mailing list or check their “Events” page immediately. If a formal day isn’t scheduled yet, gather some friends, drive to Columbus, and ask for a 15-minute meeting with your Senator’s aide. You don’t need an invitation to be a constituent in your own Statehouse.
- Tag Them Constantly: Digital Accountability
Posting your testimony is step one; making sure the Senator has to see it is step two. You need to tag their official office accounts, not just their campaign accounts.
- The “Constituent” Signal:
Always include your city or zip code in the post. Senators prioritize their own voters. Use a phrase like: “As a voter in [Your City], I am tagging Senator [Name] to ask why they are supporting the vague and dangerous language in HB 249.”
- How to Tag:
Most Ohio Senators use a standard format for their handles (e.g., @OHSenateGOP or their specific name). If you can’t find them, tag the Senate President Matt Huffman (@MattHuffmanOH) because he controls which bills actually move to a vote.
- The Share Chain:
When you see someone else post their testimony, share it and tag your Senator again. We create a digital wall of opposition that they cannot scroll past.
- Inform Your Neighbors: Localized Education – Ohio HB 249 Senate, 2026:
Most people in your community probably think Ohio HB 249 Senate, 2026 is “common sense” because they haven’t read the actual definitions in Slide 3, or they may be taking everything at face value and not reading the fine print.
- Community Meetings:
Bring printed copies of the Ohio HB 249 Senate, 2026 definitions to your local city council meeting, school board or other community related meetings.
• The “Red Flag” Script: Tell them: “This bill isn’t about what the headlines say; it’s about giving the state the power to decide if your neighbor’s clothing or presence is ‘obscene.’ Here is the literal text.”
- The Library/Coffee Shop Move:
Print out a small “How to Help” flyers with a QR code leading to this guide, or any other helpful resources and leave them at local hubs.
We Are the Firewall
The anti transgender rhetoric relies on us getting tired, and our advocates just moving to the side and letting their bigotry slide.
However, we are a community that knows how to survive. A lot of us thrive in these fight or flight situations. We know how layering our advocacy, from social media comments on Facebook to formal testimony in the Senate. They are making the political and social cost of this bill too high to pay.
Transgender people, drag performing artists, and gender nonconformists alike are not a “performance” to be managed; we are the public that they serve, just the same.
Let’s make sure they remember that when the Senate gavel falls. I am still waiting to be shown where the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, or Bill of Rights says anything about a person makes them deserving of less than anyone else. The Declaration of Independence promised life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; the Constitution and the Bill of Rights were written to codify and protect those very rights for every one of us.
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