(8-31-23) Celina will be the center of a Ohio Drag Ban Protest this coming Saturday (September 2nd at 2pm) at the Mercer County Courthouse. The protest is being headed by Event by Arienne Christina Childrey, Northwest Ohio Trans Advocacy and Private Group: Northwest Ohio Trans Advocacy.

The group is coming to Celina because 84th Statehouse District Rep Angie King (R-Celina) is one of the lead sponsors of the HB 245.

In a Facebook posting by the group heading the event they call the bill bigoted legislation. They encourage those protesting to come in drag for the event.

A recent story by the Buckeye Flame Rural entitled Ohio community under assault; hundreds of screenshots, videos depict anti-LGBTQ+ attacks put Celina in a bad light –

For months, organizers in Celina have faced an onslaught of harassment and threats from anti-LGBTQ Christian and white-supremacist groups

Celina Mayor Jeff Hazel, Celina City Council and the Law Director have not been sympathetic to concerns raised by many area residents to the local Pride Day and the Drag Show held during the event. No firm stand from city officials seems to have intensified the bad feelings between the two sides.

Celina Small Town Pride leader, Kyle Bruce (Democrat), is running for one of three seats in November for a city council seat.

The following was posted on Facebook—

As many of you know, Ohio’s 84th Statehouse Representative Angie King is the primary sponsor of HB 245 – The Ohio Drag Ban. On Sept. 02 2pm @ the Mercer County Courthouse we will be having a protest against this bigoted legislation. All are encouraged to attend, wear drag if you so like, and bring a sign. We will have open slots for speakers, if anyone would like. You can message us for more details.

Mercer County is in the 84th Statehouse District, with Celina as the county seat and hometown of Rep. Angie King. They bring their bigoted bills to us … we bring the peaceful protest to their hometown.