Pride Caucus member Ari Childrey says the Ohio Democratic Party deleted the caucus’s social media reshare criticizing Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s anti-trans ads. On Sept. 23, the caucus reshared a county Democrats’ call for Kaptur to take the ads down; the post was deleted twice.
Childrey spoke as an advocate, not in her role as Pride Caucus vice-chair. She told journalist Erin Reed the party had not contacted them before removing the reshare and said the ODP was requiring access to internal caucuses’ social accounts. Another steering committee member said the party does not approve caucus posts opposing an endorsed candidate and lacks the same control over county-party posts. The Buckeye Flame said ODP staff and leaders did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Kaptur released the two ads last week while seeking re-election in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District. One says she voted with Republicans to keep transgender ideology out of schools and that boys should not play girls’ sports; the other says she opposed teaching gender ideology in schools. GLAAD describes use of “gender ideology” as an anti-transgender dogwhistle.
