Montana state Rep. Zooey Zephyr -- the first openly trans lawmaker in the state -- has won her bid for reelection to the Montana House of Representatives after she was censured and barred from the House floor for almost two years. Her win allows Zephyr to take to the House floor for debate once more.
Zephyr's censure stemmed from her pleas on the House floor against a gender-affirming care ban for transgender youth.
"If you are denying gender-affirming care and forcing a trans child to go through puberty, that is tantamount to torture, and this body should be ashamed," Zephyr said in the April 18, 2023 debate. "If you vote yes on this bill, I hope the next time you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands."
She later elaborated on the comments in an April 2023 interview with ABC News, arguing that gender-affirming support and care improves the mental health of trans children, who face higher rates of discrimination and bullying.
"I have lost friends to suicide this year," Zephyr said. "I've had families call me when there have been ... suicide attempts by trans youth, including one trans teenager who attempted to take her life watching one of these hearings on legislation targeting the transgender community."
Republican lawmakers responded to her comments on the House floor by refusing to allow her to speak or comment on the House floor, she said. Some legislators, including House Speaker Matt Regier, argued she had broken House rules of decorum.
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Montana state Rep. Zooey Zephyr -- the first openly trans lawmaker in the state -- has won her bid for reelection to the Montana House of Representatives after she was censured and barred from the House floor for almost two years. Her win allows Zephyr to take to the House floor for debate once more.
Zephyr's censure stemmed from her pleas on the House floor against a gender-affirming care ban for transgender youth.
"If you are denying gender-affirming care and forcing a trans child to go through puberty, that is tantamount to torture, and this body should be ashamed," Zephyr said in the April 18, 2023 debate. "If you vote yes on this bill, I hope the next time you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands."
She later elaborated on the comments in an April 2023 interview with ABC News, arguing that gender-affirming support and care improves the mental health of trans children, who face higher rates of discrimination and bullying.
"I have lost friends to suicide this year," Zephyr said. "I've had families call me when there have been ... suicide attempts by trans youth, including one trans teenager who attempted to take her life watching one of these hearings on legislation targeting the transgender community."
Republican lawmakers responded to her comments on the House floor by refusing to allow her to speak or comment on the House floor, she said. Some legislators, including House Speaker Matt Regier, argued she had broken House rules of decorum.
For the rest of the article, go to: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rep-zooey-zephyr-transgender-legislator-censured-montana-wins/story