Ohio in Transition

Nicholas Wood

Ohio in Transition explores the effects of anti-transgender legislation in the bellwether state of Ohio — taking a firsthand, in-depth look at some of the state’s people and policies shaping the face of trans advocacy, activism and health care. Hosted by Ohio-based health journalist Nick Wood.

Episodes

  1. 05/16/2025

    Episode 3: "Trans People are Everywhere"

    No matter the past, present or future obstacles, trans people have always existed. This episode of Ohio in Transition highlights the strength and resiliency of the transgender community in Ohio by looking at what its members are doing to support each other, maintain wellbeing and remain unapologetically visible. You’ll hear from Appalachian Ohio’s resident LGBTQ+ historian Mickey Hart, and Cleveland-based activist with a passion for community building Harley Rubin to learn what queer activism once looked like in Ohio, where it is now and where we might be heading. Learn more about Ohio University’s Pride Archive: https://libguides.library.ohio.edu/foundersday2025  Learn more about TransOhio: https://www.transohio.org/  Click here for a complete list of the works cited in this episode For more information on resources and support services for trans Ohioans go to TransOhio’s resources page at https://www.transohio.org/For young LGBTQ+ people in crisis, contact the Trevor Project at 866-4-U-TrevorFor transgender adults needing immediate help, contact the National Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860To stay up-to-date with latest news affecting LGBTQ+ Ohioans visit https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ 2025 Anti-transgender legislation tracker: https://translegislation.com/ EDIT: At the time of interview (Jan. 16, 2025) Mallory Golski worked for KYC as the Civic Engagement and Advocacy Manager. She has sense taken up a role on the Columbus City Council and no longer holds a position at KYC.

    26 min
  2. 05/16/2025

    Episode 2: "It's Systematic"

    Of the 530 anti-LGBTQ+ bills proposed throughout the U.S. last year, 112 specifically attempted to restrict access to gender-affirming health care. But current policy measures limiting access to health care for trans people are only half of the story. The health care system itself is built to serve cisgendered patients—historically excluding transgender people from medical data and research. How has this neglect trickled down to impact members of the trans community trying to navigate the health care system today — and what new hurdles are emerging in the face of newly-enacted legislation? In this episode of Ohio in Transition, I try to answer these questions while speaking with Dr. Theo Hutchinson — a major player in initiatives to educate health care and public school workers about best practices for treating and interacting with trans folk in Athens, Ohio.  Click here to read more about Theo Click here for a complete list of the works cited in this episode For more information on resources and support services for trans Ohioans go to TransOhio’s resources page at https://www.transohio.org/ For young LGBTQ+ people in crisis, contact the Trevor Project at 866-4-U-Trevor For transgender adults needing immediate help, contact the National Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860 To stay up-to-date with latest news affecting LGBTQ+ Ohioans visit https://thebuckeyeflame.com/  2025 Anti-transgender legislation tracker: https://translegislation.com/

    17 min
  3. 05/16/2025

    Episode 1: "Anatomy of a Wave"

    On the national and state levels, there’s emerged a marked trend in policies attempting to infringe on the health, safety and autonomy of transgender people. Ohio itself has seen multiple pieces of such legislation in the past year, limiting access to gender-affirming care for trans youth, preventing trans athletes from participating on school sports teams and sanctioning forced outings for trans students with the passage of House Bills 68 and 8, respectively.  But what factors led to this sudden surge in attacks on trans rights? How are people responding in kind? And what issues might be created — or overlooked — in the fallout? In this episode of Ohio in Transition, I speak with Columbus, Ohio-based trans youth advocate Mallory Golski, and Athens, Ohio community leader-turned-public official Ari Faber to try and answer these questions. Honesty for Ohio Education HB 8 Toolkit: https://www.honestyforohioeducation.org/hb8-toolkit.html  Learn more about KYC: https://www.kycohio.org/  Learn more about UCM: https://ucmathens.org/  Click here for a complete list of the works cited in this episode For more information on resources and support services for trans Ohioans go to TransOhio’s resources page at https://www.transohio.org/ For young LGBTQ+ people in crisis, contact the Trevor Project at 866-4-U-Trevor For transgender adults needing immediate help, contact the National Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860 To stay up-to-date with latest news affecting LGBTQ+ Ohioans visit https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ 2025 Anti-transgender legislation tracker: https://translegislation.com/ EDIT: At the time of interview (Jan. 16, 2025) Mallory Golski worked for KYC as the Civic Engagement and Advocacy Manager. She has sense taken up a role on the Columbus City Council and no longer holds a position at KYC.

    22 min

About

Ohio in Transition explores the effects of anti-transgender legislation in the bellwether state of Ohio — taking a firsthand, in-depth look at some of the state’s people and policies shaping the face of trans advocacy, activism and health care. Hosted by Ohio-based health journalist Nick Wood.