Local

Over 8,000 Americans die every day, many of them unnecessarily.

Why? Because the United States still doesn’t have a national health care system that guarantees everyone adequate medical attention.

One particular American’s death has driven that point home. On December 4, a gunman murdered Brian Thompson, UnitedHealthcare’s 50-year-old CEO. The bullet casings from the shooting read “deny,” “defend,” and “depose.”

Those three words neatly sum up the gameplan America’s giant insurers so relentlessly follow: deny the claim, defend the lawsuit, depose the patient.

The Ohio state legislature has done it again.

Two years ago, lawmakers stuffed House Bill 507, a bill about how many poultry chicks could be sold in a batch, with unrelated amendments – at the last minute during lame duck session, with no notice or chance for people to comment. One of those amendments REQUIRED fracking our state parks.

Last week, during the 2024 lame duck session, legislators stuffed HB 308 – a bill that declares nuclear energy to be “green” – with a series of amendments, during its last committee hearing, again with no public notice or chance to comment.

This time, one of the amendments extends fracking leases for our state parks and public lands from three years to five years, with an option to extend for another three years – meaning that every lease doled out to the oil and gas industry allows them to frack our state parks and wildlife areas for up to EIGHT years.

Tuesday, December 17, 2024, 6:00 – 8:00 PM
wo Dollar Radio Headquarters, 1124 Parsons Ave, Columbus

Been hearing about all of the bills going through the Ohio Statehouse and want to take action?

Join Abortion Forward, PPAO, TransOhio, and Equality Ohio in Columbus for an action-filled happy hour, where we will tell you about some of the good and bad bills and answer any questions you have. We will be calling and writing letters/postcards to our legislators to urge them to act in a way that supports reproductive freedom and LGBTQ+ rights! Don't worry, we will walk you through every step, and have scripts available for you to reference if needed. We will also be hanging out and creating community, so come whenever you can and stay as long as you'd like!  
Register here. 

This article first appeared in the Buckeye Flame

As one of the fastest growing cities in the country, Columbus is in for major changes in the coming years—and local queer community leader Densil Porteous wants to be a part of the conversation to fill the vacant District 7 representative on city council.

“We know we are going to continue to grow, and we have to be thoughtful, strategic and intentional about that growth,” he said.

As a queer Black man, a parent and a two-decade Columbus resident, Porteous believes he will bring a much-needed perspective to Council to ensure a bright and equitable future for the city. His platform is centered on affordable housing, inclusive economic growth, environmental justice and community-centered safety solutions.

Once again, the holiday season is upon us. Whether we choose to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa – or simply participate in ongoing festivities – we can all agree that it’s a special time of the year, graced by extended time with family and friends, good food, and merry-making. For obvious reasons already enumerated in countless media outlets, it can also be a stressful time, a lonely time, and a sad time. This year, but a few weeks after the presidential election, the stakes are even higher. The probability of uncomfortable dinners has grown, perhaps exponentially, as we take stock of how deeply divided our nation truly is.

Monday, December 16, 7pm
Call your legislator to stop House Bill 8. According to activist Rachel Coyle, it's a "Christmas tree bill" that does a lot of different things. It would ban books and curriculum that have "sexuality" content (an incredibly broad term), require forced outing of LGBTQ+ students without consideration for the child's safety at home, and require all Ohio school districts to allow release programs (like LifeWise) to remove students during the public school day for religious education.

For more information: bit.ly/stopHB8

Dozens of people from across the city gathered in the Columbus Short North district on a cold December afternoon to show the world that “Hate has no home here”.

Following just weeks after the shocking Nazi march in Columbus , which received international press coverage and condemnation from the Biden administration, the people of Columbus organized a “Walk for Humanity” down the same city streets.

Sunday, December 15, 12noon
Studio 35 Cinema & Draft House, 3055 Indianola Ave.

In an audacious investigation, “Freightened” reveals the mechanics and perils of freight shipment; an all-but-visible industry that holds the key to our economy, our environment, and the very model of our civilization. All ticket proceeds go directly to support Simply Living and their many exciting local initiatives!

Editor’s note: Studio 35 has a private event at 3pm after our December screening, so our event on December 15 will be ending an hour early at 2pm. We will start the film at 12noon sharp to accommodate this, which should still allow close to a half hour for discussion after the film. The theater will open for us at 11:30am, as they have previously, so come early for lunch if you like!

Use this link to purchase advance tickets.

RSVP for this event by using this link.

Hosted by Simply Living.

Saturday, December 14, 1:30-4:30pm
First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd.

Let’s get together in person for a Second Saturday Salon — at a new time — in the afternoon — Saturday, December 14, 1:30-4:30pm.

We will honor Abe Bonowitz of Death Penalty Action with the 2024 Free Press Libby Award for Community Activism and hear updates about the abolition of capital punishment and celebrate the 90th birthday of Tekla Taylor-Lagway!

This event will include fun, socializing, and networking with progressive friends.

Some refreshments will be provided; potluck dishes are welcome.

Read more about Abe here.

This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact the Columbus Free Press at colsfreepress@gmail.com

Saturday, December 14, 7:30pm; Sunday, December 15, 2pm; Riffe Center Theatre Complex, 77 S. High St.

What better way to celebrate the holiday season than by watching the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus in our concert, “Light, Bright, and Gay.” We will be performing your favorite sacred and secular holiday tunes mixed with camp, like only the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus can do! Let us light up your holiday season.

Ticket prices: $10.00 to $121.32.

RSVP for this event by using this link.

Facebook Event