Transgender lawmaker silenced again as her supporters erupt
HELENA, MONT. >> Republican legislative leaders in Montana persisted in forbidding Democratic transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr from participating in debate for a second week as her supporters brought the House session to a halt Monday — chanting “Let her speak!” from the gallery before they were escorted out.
In the initial moments after proceedings were paused Monday afternoon, Zephyr defiantly hoisted a non-functioning microphone into the air as her supporters interrupted proceedings for nearly half an hour after Republicans denied her requests to speak on a proposal that would have restricted when children could change the names and pronouns they use in school and required their parents' consent.
The interruption is the latest development in a three-day fight over Zephyr's remarks against lawmakers who support a ban on gender-affirming care. Zephyr, who is transgender and a first-term Democrat representative from Missoula, hasn't been allowed to speak on the statehouse floor since Thursday because she told her Republican colleagues last week they would have “blood on their hands” if they banned gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth.
Zephyr's supporters were escorted from the gallery above the state House floor, including several by force. Leaders cut the sound on the video feed and Zephyr remained on the floor holding her microphone. Zephyr did not return after lawmakers reconvened and wrote on Twitter that she would be back after showing “support for those who were arrested defending democracy.”
Zephyr told The Associated Press she was headed to the county jail with the half dozen protestors who were arrested.
The display followed a promise Zephyr made earlier on Monday, when she told supporters on the statehouse steps that she planned to continue speaking forcefully against legislation that members of the transgender community, including herself, consider matters of life and death.
“I was sent here to speak on behalf of my constituents and to speak on behalf of my community. It's the promise I made when I got elected and it's a promise that I will continue to keep every single day,” Zephyr said before walking into the House chamber.
Ban proponents see Zephyr's remarks as unprecedented and personal in nature. She and her supporters say they accurately illustrate the stakes of the legislation under discussion, arguing that restricting gender-affirming care endangers transgender youth, who many studies suggest suffer disproportionately from depression and suicidality.
The standoff is the latest example of emergent discussions around civility, decorum and how to discuss political issues many perceive as life and death.