{"id":3190,"date":"2023-05-03T05:41:21","date_gmt":"2023-05-03T10:41:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/?p=3190"},"modified":"2023-05-03T05:41:22","modified_gmt":"2023-05-03T10:41:22","slug":"trans-activist-rep-zooey-zephyr-sues-montana-for-house-censure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/?p=3190","title":{"rendered":"Trans-Activist Rep. Zooey Zephyr Sues Montana for House Censure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20370%20247'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-11.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load wp-image-3191\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"696\" height=\"470\" src=\"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-11.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3191\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-11.png 696w, https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-11-300x203.png 300w, https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-11-293x198.png 293w, https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-11-120x80.png 120w, https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-11-390x263.png 390w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Zooey Zephyr leads protest\/Montana\/Thom Bridge \/ Associated Press)<br><br>Trans-activist and Montana State Representative Zooey Zephyr\u00a0filed a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/wp.api.aclu.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ZZ-Compl.-FINAL.pdf\">lawsuit<\/a>\u00a0on Monday alleging last week\u2019s censure from House leadership violates her First Amendment rights. Zephyr is the first openly transgender individual elected to the Montana state legislature. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/victoryfund.org\/news\/zooey-zephyr-shatters-lavender-ceiling-first-trans-person-ever-elected-to-the-montana-state-legislature\/\">newly elected<\/a>\u00a0legislator lives in HD100, representing Missoula, one of the bluest districts in the state.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Full Press Release, as well as the full complaint, can be found here: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/egvOCIi4zF\">https:\/\/t.co\/egvOCIi4zF<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Rep. Zooey Zephyr (@ZoAndBehold) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ZoAndBehold\/status\/1653051615988027395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 1, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Zephyr is represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana, and in Monday\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aclu.org\/press-releases\/emergency-lawsuit-seeks-full-reinstatement-of-mt-state-rep-zooey-zephyrs-legislative-rights\">press release<\/a>, she said the district she represents has been \u201ctargeted,\u201d and their voices have been squelched:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cThis effort by House leadership to silence me and my constituents is a disturbing and terrifying affront to democracy itself.\u00a0House leadership explicitly and directly targeted me and my district because I dared to give voice to the values and needs of transgender people like myself. By doing so, they\u2019ve denied me my own rights under the Constitution and, more importantly, the rights of my constituents to just representation in their own government. The Montana State House is the people\u2019s House, not Speaker Regier\u2019s, and I\u2019m determined to defend the right of the people to have their voices heard.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SB99, Bill Banning Sex-Altering Procedures for Minors Causes Heated Debate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Zephyr made calls from the floor on April 18 to vote against\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/leg.mt.gov\/bills\/2023\/billpdf\/SB0099.pdf\">SB99<\/a>, a gender-affirming care ban for transgender youth, which was ultimately signed into law on April 28. The bill prohibits \u201ccertain medical and surgical treatments for minors with gender dysphoria.\u201d It also bans the use of \u201cpublic funds, programs, property, and employees from being used for the treatments.\u201d Among the banned treatments and procedures are puberty blockers, supraphysiologic (greater than normally present) doses of male or female hormones, and a variety of specific sex-altering surgeries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the debate over the bill, Zephyr made some accusatory remarks, telling colleagues, \u201c<em>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.\u00a0If you vote yes on this bill, I hope the next time you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Zephyr was also joined inside the chamber by disruptive protesters who repeatedly chanted,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/rwuLtbhNA2M\">\u201cLet her speak.\u201d\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Montana state Rep. Zooey Zephyr told lawmakers they would have \u201cblood on their hands\u201d if they banned gender-affirming medical care. Republicans have refused to let the transgender lawmaker speak on the chamber floor until she apologizes for her remarks. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ei8sBvd2bz\">https:\/\/t.co\/ei8sBvd2bz<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jB8wsOHKWj\">pic.twitter.com\/jB8wsOHKWj<\/a><\/p>&mdash; The Associated Press (@AP) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AP\/status\/1649566057093529600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 22, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">House Speaker Matt Rieger warned Zephyr would not be \u201crecognized\u201d until Zephyr apologized.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ZoAndBehold\/status\/1648807476610101248?s=20\">Zephyr refused<\/a>, saying it would silence the trans community and \u201cget us killed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On April 26, after a week of \u201cbeing silenced,\u201d the Montana House Republican leadership voted 68-32 to censure Zephyr for the duration of the session. Zephyr cannot enter the House floor, anti-room or House gallery but retains the option to participate remotely with \u201cvoting only\u201d privileges. Zephyr\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lgbtqnation.com\/2023\/04\/seven-supporters-of-trans-lawmaker-arrested-in-montana-house-let-her-speak\/\">response<\/a>\u00a0followed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">My statement on the Montana GOP&#39;s undemocratic decision to ban me from debate on the House floor:<br><br>Today I stood unwaveringly in defense of my constituents, my community, and democracy itself. And I pledge to always do so. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/mCuN9ah0JL\">pic.twitter.com\/mCuN9ah0JL<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Rep. Zooey Zephyr (@ZoAndBehold) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ZoAndBehold\/status\/1651339238162714624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 26, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">House Speaker Matt Regier defended his actions, saying Zephyr knowingly broke the rules of decorum. Following the censure vote, Regier told reporters the House is not silencing Zephyr and\u00a0<em>\u201cwill not be bullied\u2026The only person silencing Representative Zephyr is Representative Zephyr\u201d\u00a0<\/em>who\u00a0<em>\u201cmade a choice to break the rules.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/mtpol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#mtpol<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/mtleg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#mtleg<\/a><br><br>Speaker did not take questions, went into his office and closed the door after <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KMYGkUuEuW\">pic.twitter.com\/KMYGkUuEuW<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Holly Michels (@hollykmichels) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hollykmichels\/status\/1650919001139343360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 25, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/lgbtq-laws-states-gender-affirming-zephyr-fc2528326823c8232cb0aaa7ece0beab\">\u00a0states<\/a>\u00a0have already banned or plan to ban access to medical treatments and surgeries for gender-dysphoric minors. However, as seen most recently in Tennessee, the Department of Justice has begun to challenge laws banning sex-altering medical treatments for minors, stating states are \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uncoverdc.com\/2023\/04\/28\/doj-challenges-tn-law-banning-medical-treatments-for-transgender-minors\/\">denying medically necessary care<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20370%20247'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-12.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load wp-image-3192\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"696\" height=\"523\" src=\"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-12.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-12.png 696w, https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-12-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-12-293x220.png 293w, https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-12-390x293.png 390w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Trans Youth care\/AP\/Map<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Original Link:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uncoverdc.com\/2023\/05\/01\/trans-activist-rep-zooey-zephyr-sues-montana-for-house-censure\/\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uncoverdc.com\/2023\/05\/01\/trans-activist-rep-zooey-zephyr-sues-montana-for-house-censure\/\">https:\/\/www.uncoverdc.com\/2023\/05\/01\/trans-activist-rep-zooey-zephyr-sues-montana-for-house-censure\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Zephyr is represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana, and in Monday\u2019s\u00a0press release, she said the district she represents has been \u201ctargeted,\u201d and their voices have been squelched: \u201cThis effort by House leadership to silence me and my constituents is a disturbing and terrifying affront to democracy itself.\u00a0House leadership explicitly and directly targeted me and my district because I dared to give voice to the values and needs of transgender people like myself. By doing so, they\u2019ve denied [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":87,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-woke-agenda"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3190","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/87"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3190"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3190\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3193,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3190\/revisions\/3193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3190"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3190"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3190"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}