Buckeye Reporter

In a recent post on Facebook, Ohio Citizen Action urged Ohioans to "celebrate Pride" by voting no on Issue 1. Ohio Citizen Action is one of a number of groups opposing Issue 1.

"Celebrate Pride by voting NO in August," the organization said. "Happy Pride, Ohio! As Ohioans across the state celebrate Pride, let's stand united against the undemocratic power grab that is Issue 1. Vote NO on Aug. 8. #VoteNOinAugust."

According to a prior report from the Buckeye Reporter, ballot Issue 1 would require 60% voter approval to pass amendments to the Ohio Constitution via ballot initiative. Additionally, since 2000, there have been 16 petition-based constitutional amendments proposed in Ohio; five have passed and 11 have met defeat. Of the five that took effect, three received 60% or more of the vote.

The video released by Ohio Citizen Action endorsing the Vote No in August campaign featured multiple speakers, including two drag queens urging Ohioans to "celebrate Pride" by voting no on Issue 1 on the August ballot.

The Buckeye Reporter previously reported that "a roster of left-leaning advocacy groups" has come out against Issue 1. These groups include Black Lives Matter Cleveland, Black Lives Matter Dayton, Pro-Choice Ohio, Black Out and Proud, the Cleveland Bi+ Network, Columbus New Liberals, Democrat Socialists of America-Cleveland, Ensuring Parole for Incarcerated Citizens, New Voices for Reproductive Justice and the Ohio Federation of Teachers.

The Communist Party of Ohio also reportedly joined the Vote No in August coalition and recently gathered to “stand with drag queens and families” during a protest outside a "Drag Story Hour" event at the Near West Side Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio, according to the Cleveland Reporter.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank La Rose backs the reform because he feels that under the current system, it is too easy for well-funded "special interests" to win low-turnout, off-year elections, end-running the legislature.

"Because of the ease of amending Ohio’s founding document, the Ohio Constitution has become a tool used by special interests to permanently change our form of government to their liking," he said in a statement. "In just the past three petition-based amendment campaigns, special interests have spent more than $50 million on media advertising, political consultants and more to support their passage."

Rachael Belz is the CEO of Ohio Citizen Action. According to Ohio Citizen Action, Belz has worked as an organizer on several campaigns, including the successful campaign to prevent AMP from building a new coal plant in Southeast Ohio, and played a key role in calling on Ohio Utilities to close several plants.