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On Friday, the Trump Admin quietly issued a policy that will remove coverage of gender-affirming care for all adults covered by federal employee insurance plans. The policy will take effect next year, and will impact an estimated 14,000 employees. www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...

Level Up The Trans Journalists Association is offering stipends of $250 and $500 for journalists' professional development.

Got your eye on a data training? Trying to get to a conference to speak on a panel?

We want to support your growth as a trans journalist, help journalists learn to better-cover trans communities, or both.

The Trans Journalists Association is offering a new round of stipends 🏳️‍⚧️

Cleveland welcomes new WNBA franchise team, embraces out LGBTQ+ athletes The move marks a new era in women's professional sports – particularly for LGBTQ+ athletes, who had previously been encouraged to remain closeted while in the league.

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...

Reported FBI Probe Targets Trans-Affirming Care Providers—For Procedure They Don’t Do Unconfirmed reports of an FBI probe in pediatric hospitals serving trans youth leaves parents, doctors and transgender youth in a suspended state of terror. That’s by design.

1. Children's Hospitals are reportedly under investigation by the FBI for gender affirming care, which is not illegal.

The Trump admin is using anti-FGM laws, which do not apply and have specific definitions.

It is a scare tactic meant to coerce hospitals.

Subscribe to support our journalism.

Thank you 2025 SOGI Family Pride Sponsor Camp Lilac!

Ohio Senate passes budget containing slate of anti-LGBTQ+ attacks The budget includes language to erase trans identity, ban youth access to LGBTQ+ books and defund homeless shelters that support trans youth.

Ohio Senate passes budget containing slate of anti-LGBTQ+ attacks.

The budget includes language to erase trans identity, ban youth access to LGBTQ+ books and defund homeless shelters that support trans youth.

thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/06/11/o...

Teaching Transliterature: How a Cleveland-area academic pioneered a field of study to amplify voices of change “I had to plant a flag saying transliterature exists, it is important, and it is worthy of study.”

“I had to plant a flag saying transliterature exists, it is important, and it is worthy of study.”

Teaching Transliterature: How a Cleveland-area academic pioneered a field of study to amplify voices of change.

thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/06/03/t...

Thousands celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride in downtown Cleveland On June 7, thousands flocked to downtown Cleveland to celebrate Pride in the CLE – the annual LGBTQ+ Pride march and festival organized by the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland.

Thousands celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride in downtown Cleveland
On June 7, thousands attended Cleveland’s annual LGBTQ+ Pride festival and march.

thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/06/09/t...

Experts say rash of Pride flag vandalism across Ohio points to shifting trend in anti-LGBTQ+ violence What anti-LGBTQ+ incidents can tell us about cultural 'turf wars' in Ohio and beyond

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...

Ohio Senate committee rejects LGBTQ+ orgs’ testimony Reps for Equality Ohio and TransOhio were set to testify against anti-LGBTQ+ language in the state budget.

Ohio Senate committee rejects LGBTQ+ orgs’ testimony.

Reps for Equality Ohio and TransOhio were set to testify against anti-LGBTQ+ language in the state budget.

thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/05/14/o...

2025-26 Guide to Ohio's LGBTQ+ Legislation (136th General Assembly) To help you differentiate one Senate and House Bill from another, we have put together this easy-to-use reference guide.

There are currently 14 LGBTQ+-related bills in Ohio’s 136th General Assembly.

Our 2025-26 Guide to Ohio’s LGBTQ+ legislation will let you know where each bill currently stands.

thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/04/29/2...

Ohio Republicans introduce bill to designate month honoring heterosexual married families The group behind the legislation says that each family must have “a clear male leader and that leader must come from the family's lineage.”

Ohio Republicans introduce bill to designate month honoring heterosexual married families.

The group behind the legislation says that each family must have “a clear male leader and that leader must come from the family’s lineage.”

thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/05/13/n...

✏️ @kenschneck.bsky.social

Democratic House members urge Robert Kennedy Jr. to save LGBTQ+ suicide line - buff.ly/dmVH0BC

Columbus City Council offers aid to youth LGBTQ+ nonprofit in wake of political attacks Columbus City Council passed an ordinance granting $100k to local nonprofit Kaleidoscope Youth Center, which offers support to the LGBTQ+ community

Kaleidoscope Youth Center, the largest and oldest organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth in Ohio, will receive a $100,000 grant from the city after an ordinance sponsored by Councilmember Melissa Green passed unanimously May 12.
by Emma Wozniak
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...

New Releases: May 6, 2025 Children's Billy Porter: A Little Golden Book Biography by Phil Stamper and Steffi Walthall Billy saw that clothes were the perfect way to stand out and let people know who you are. Billy Porter has been impressing audiences ever since he played his award-winning role of Lola in the Broadway hit Kinky Boots. His story of chasing his dream to be a performer comes to life in 

New Releases: May 6, 2025

Children's Billy Porter: A Little Golden Book Biography by Phil Stamper and Steffi Walthall Billy saw that clothes were the perfect way to stand out and let people know who you are. Billy Porter has been impressing audiences ever since he played his award-winning role of…

2025 LGBTQ+ Ohio Pride Guide To help your LGBTQ+ Ohio Pride attendance, our 2025 guide has an interactive map and sections organized by city and by date.

🏳️‍🌈 The 2025 LGBTQ+ Ohio Pride Guide has arrived! 🏳️‍🌈

thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/05/05/2...

BREAKING: Supreme Court allows Trump administration to enforce ban on transgender service members while legal battle continues #NOH8

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

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...

Ohio’s proposed drag ban is back; Republicans rebrand it the ‘Indecent Exposure Modernization Act’ Under HB 249, drag performers could face felony charges if a juvenile attends an ‘obscene’ performance

Ohio’s proposed drag ban is back; Republicans rebrand it the ‘Indecent Exposure Modernization Act.’

Under HB 249, drag performers could face felony charges if a juvenile attends an ‘obscene’ performance.

#LGBTQ #Ohio #DragBan

The Buckeye Flame invites applications for new Board members The Board currently has openings for four (4) at-large members. The deadline for Board applications is May 10.

The Buckeye Flame invites applications for new Board members.

The Board currently has openings for four (4) at-large members. The deadline for Board applications is May 10.

thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/04/25/n...

Follow our staff!

Ken Schneck, Editor:
@kenschneck.bsky.social

H.L. Comeriato, Senior Staff Writer:
@hcomeriato.bsky.social

Ben Jodway, Report for America Corps Member (Rural LGBTQ+ Beat):
@bjodway.bsky.social

Allentown, Pennsylvania city council passes resolution declaring the city a safe haven for LGBTQ+ families, gender affirming care #NOH8

Can’t wait to see you in June!

What's that? A #barnesandnoble preorder sale? And I have a book coming out in a little more than a month!?

MY, HOW FORTUITOUS!

Make sure you preorder GOING OVERBOARD!

Republican state rep wants menstrual products banned from Ohio men’s rooms. Rep. Rodney Creech saw red and took photos from inside in a public men’s restroom to prove his point.

Republican state rep wants menstrual products banned from Ohio men’s rooms.

Rep. Rodney Creech saw red and took photos from inside in a public men’s restroom to prove his point.

✏️ @kenschneck.bsky.social

Front page of Sunday's Detroit Free Press:

Stories about transgender people and families that include transgender voices.

“The government, the president, the people in charge are spending so much energy and money making your life harder."

Cincinnati Pride drops corporate sponsors that have rolled back DEI programs, moves to community-funding model Organizers are crowdfunding to make up the 50k difference.

Cincinnati Pride dropped corporate sponsors that have rolled back DEI programs, moves to community-funding model. That left them with a $50K gap in funding. So they turned to their local community.

They are 75% towards closing that gap.

thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/04/01/c...

We're so extremely excited about this fundraiser and so appreciative of all the amazing creators, writers, artists and all around fabulous humans who have come together to make this happen.
☺️🏳️‍⚧️

TransOhio’s Emergency Fund has given out over $70K in funds in the last 14 months!

Mutual aid made possible by community fundraising through concerts, bake sales, art, t-shirts, readathons, drag shows, contests, weight lifting, cycling, creativity, and so much more

www.transohio.org/emergency-fund

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s latest budget proposal would define gender as two sexes, require libraries to limit access to LGBTQ+ books, and prohibit state agencies from flying certain flags.
by Natalie Fahmy, David Rees
www.nbc4i.com/news/politic...