Akron Fights for Trans Rights: End of Campaign Statement.

Akron DSA is concluding its Akron Fights for Trans Rights campaign as a formal, priority effort within the Chapter. We remain committed to fighting for trans rights and queer liberation. However, we have come to the unfortunate realization that city-wide policy, which was the focus of this campaign, can do very little to preemptively protect against the attacks of the Trump administration and its cronies in the Ohio Statehouse. 

When the chapter relaunched this campaign in late October 2023, we sought to emulate sanctuary city policies for migrants in other cities with the purpose of protecting Queer and Trans people from state and federal oppression. This was conducted as part of a larger nationwide project stemming from other DSA chapters and a larger socialist project to enshrine trans rights. Where cities have successfully passed sanctuary laws, many resulting from DSA efforts nationwide, these laws can function because they do not conflict with laws at the state level and are effective at shielding from federal overreach. State overreach on the municipality, however, is not recognized within our nation’s framework. The legislative realities in Ohio are much bleaker where our decades-long right-wing government and gerrymandered districts have not only permitted but promoted the assault on trans and queer life at the state level. While some cities in Ohio have successfully passed such resolutions, if asked to participate in trans genocide, under the United States’ current civic structure, the City of Akron will essentially be forced to comply as deprioritization of such measures falls outside of the bounds of home rule. In the eyes of the law, non-compliance to the whims of trans genocide would be little more than a declaration of secession. Therefore, more effective trans protections must occur on the state level in order to overcome this overreach. 

As a final measure of this campaign, Akron DSA is proposing trans protections through updates to Akron’s Code of Ordinances that include new, inclusive and protective language as well as the removal of outdated language and loopholes that could be used to harm trans people. We hope the city council and mayor accept our legislative proposals to protect Queer and Trans Akronites to the fullest capability of Akron City. A few examples of our legislative proposals include:

T13C130.02 Prohibiting props or costume pieces from drag shows from being construed as “contraband.”

T13C130.09SB.3 Protecting healthcare providers that choose to provide evidence-backed, gender-affirming care.

T13C130.13 Preventing gender-affirming medicine from being classified as illegal “drugs.”

T13C130.14 Preventing gender non-conformity from being construed as a sex offense or as indecent or disorderly conduct.

T13C133.06 Ensuring nudity is permitted in live performances or demonstrations which are artistic, scientific, or medical in nature.

And declaring that gender expression aside from one’s gender assigned at birth be not construed as nudity, sexual conduct, masturbation, or obscenity.

And to make menacing of a person for their gender expression or sexual orientation a misdemeanor of the first degree (solidifying protected status for queer, trans, and gay Akronites)

T13C135.17 ReRemoving he exemption of parents’ exemption to treat their children solely by prayer (foregoing medical treatment) and explicitly calling for a ban on sexual to sexual and gender conversion therapy.

The Fight for Trans Rights cannot, must not, and will not stop here. Trans liberation is a mandatory precondition to the overthrow of capital. The working class must be in control of all means of production, be they manufacturing or social reproduction. Thus, liberated gender production must be central in the socialist struggle of the DSA. While our avenues for protection at the city level are limited in scope, we will continue to agitate for change and organize for the end of trans genocide within the United States of America and internationally. We will look beyond protections within city legislation and instead find opportunities to provide mutual aid to trans folks and directly organize queer workers in the working class to stand in the way of these genocidal policies. We have learned through this campaign that we cannot expect help from city officials to push back against fascist policies; we must come together, stand with our neighbors, demand the change we want to see, and disrupt the systems of power when that change is not accepted. Join us in Akron and other Ohio DSA chapters in our continuing fight to protect the most vulnerable among us! Trans Rights Forever!

Akron DSA, Queer Liberation Commission, 21 Sep 2026.