Them Before Us, a Seattle-based organization known for its anti-LGBTQ+ stance, launched a campaign in rural Ohio that sparked an unexpected wave of solidarity. The billboards, displaying the message “No child has two dads. No child has two moms,” in rainbow lettering, aimed to challenge the acceptance of LGBTQ+ families. However, the response from the community was far from what the organization anticipated.
Megan Tucker-Manly, a resident of Northwest Ohio, was among the first to notice the billboards in Lima. Her viral post about the billboards highlighted the broader implications of the message, which could affect children in foster homes, partners in abusive relationships, and children of divorced parents. Despite battling stage IV cancer, Tucker-Manly felt compelled to take action against the divisive message.
Them Before Us and Their Mission
Them Before Us, founded by Katy Faust, advocates for the end of marriage equality, in vitro fertilization, and no-fault divorce. The organization has ties to groups designated as anti-LGBTQ+ hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center, including the Family Research Council and Alliance Defending Freedom. Their campaign in Ohio was part of a broader effort to promote their agenda under the guise of “protecting children.”
Tucker-Manly was shocked by the billboards’ message and the organization’s use of phrases like “protecting children” to mask their anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-feminist advocacy. “What they want [sounds pretty], but it’s not reality,” she said. “It’s about getting under the skin.”
The LGBTQ+ Community Strikes Back
The billboards’ divisive message sparked a strong response from the LGBTQ+ community and allies. Glen Strobel, secretary of Lima Pride Alliance (LPA), described the billboards as “divisive” and “cruel.” Community members reached out to LPA, seeking ways to counter the hateful message.
Have a Gay Day, a Dayton LGBTQ+ nonprofit organization, resource center, and meme page, took immediate action. They purchased billboard space to promote a positive queer message online. Founder Michael Knote reported raising over $15,000 to keep the advertisements up, demonstrating the community’s unity and resilience.
Equality Ohio also released a statement pushing back against the billboard’s messaging. “These billboards don’t just attack LGBTQ+ families, they erase every Ohio kid whose home doesn’t fit a narrow, manufactured mold,” the statement read. “They tell real children with real families that they don’t count.”
The Impact of the Campaign
A 2026 RAND study concluded that same-sex couples and their children benefit from pro-LGBTQ+ policies. The study also found that children in these families had a more positive view of marriage compared to heterosexual couples. Delphine Luneau, spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, called the billboards “disgusting” and “desperate,” citing a survey that found two-thirds of Ohioans support marriage equality.
“These outside groups targeting the Buckeye State with fear and disinformation won’t ever win,” Luneau said. The community’s response to the billboards demonstrated the strength and unity of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies in Ohio.
Tucker-Manly’s public Facebook presence, previously focused on her experience with cancer and her involvement in clinical trials, took a new turn with her viral post about the billboards. The response emboldened her to speak at Lima City Council about addressing hate speech at the county level. “Something has to change,” she said.
