Sara Jonas has made a name for herself as one of the most hostile local officials in Ohio when it comes to LGBTQ+ equality—using her seat on the Forest Hills School Board to erase queer students, censor inclusive education, and import the far-right “parental rights” playbook into public schools.
In 2022, Jonas co-authored and championed the now-infamous “Culture of Kindness” resolution—a sweeping policy that banned classroom discussion, curriculum, and staff training related to sexual orientation, gender identity, diversity, and anti-racism. Under the resolution, teachers were forbidden from discussing LGBTQ+ topics, and students were barred from exploring their identities in school assignments. Jonas claimed the resolution promoted “kindness.” The community saw it for what it was: censorship and discrimination.
Parents, educators, and students revolted. Forest Hills made national headlines for its toxic climate, legal challenges mounted, and Jonas refused to back down—even as the district spent $100,000 defending her agenda in federal court. In December 2023, under public and legal pressure, the board voted to repeal the policy. Jonas, though, never apologized. She doubled down, casting the repeal as political and aligning herself with groups trying to purge classrooms of honest conversations about race and gender.
Now, in 2025, Jonas faces voters in a transformed district. Her allies on the board were ousted in 2023. The majority now opposes her views. She stands alone—still clinging to the politics of fear, still a threat to LGBTQ+ students. This November, voters will finally have the chance to hold her accountable.
Key Vulnerabilities
Extensive Anti-LGBTQ+ Record:
Jonas led the charge on the “Culture of Kindness” resolution, which banned all classroom material and staff development related to gender identity and sexual orientation.
The resolution was legally challenged as a First Amendment and equal protection violation.
A federal lawsuit and community backlash forced its repeal in December 2023—but Jonas defended it until the end.
Community Backlash:
In 2023, Forest Hills voters flipped the board by electing two pro-inclusion members who campaigned against Jonas’s agenda.
The board is now 3–2 against her, isolating her politically.
Public testimony, student protests, and widespread coverage have made her name synonymous with censorship and bigotry.
Demographic Shifts:
Forest Hills (Hamilton County) is trending moderate to blue—young families, suburban parents, and independents have rejected culture-war extremism.
Voters passed countywide nondiscrimination protections and supported inclusive policies in recent cycles.
Jonas’s agenda is out of step with the community.
Controversy Magnet:
Even after the repeal, Jonas stirred new controversy in early 2025 by accusing social studies textbooks of anti-Trump bias.
Her continued alignment with far-right education policies is likely to re-energize the coalition that defeated her allies in 2023.Henry McClure has a documented history of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric on social media and in interviews.
Sara Jonas has built her school board career on censorship, extremism, and far-right grievance politics—and now she’s trying to keep that agenda alive in Forest Hills. A culture war activist disguised as a public servant, Jonas isn’t just running for re-election—she’s threatening to drag Forest Hills schools backward.
She has:
Co-authored and championed the “Culture of Kindness” resolution, banning discussions of LGBTQ+ identities, diversity, and anti-racism from classrooms.
Sparked national outrage, student walkouts, and a federal lawsuit that cost taxpayers over $100,000.
Doubled down on far-right censorship efforts even after her policies were repealed and her allies were voted out.
