He also doubled down on Republican leaders in the Montana legislature Rep. Zoe Zephyr was barred from the debate In the second week, her supporters on Monday interrupted the proceedings in the House of Representatives by chanting “Let her speak!”
Zephyr, a Missoula Democrat, wanted to talk about a proposal that would restrict when children can change the names and pronouns they use at school, with the required consent of their parents.
When lawmakers voted to continue subjecting Zephyr to a gag order, denying her the opportunity to speak, the gallery, made up mostly of her supporters, erupted, forcing legislative leaders to pause proceedings and vacate the room.
It was the latest development in a three-day battle over Zephyr’s remarks against lawmakers who support banning gender affirming sponsorships. Zephyr, who is transgender, has not been allowed to speak at the State House Building since Thursday because she told fellow Republicans last week they would be “stained in blood” if they banned Medical care confirming gender for transgender youth.
Supporters from the gallery were escorted up the floor of the State House, many of them by force. The leaders cut out the audio on the video feed and Zephyr remained on the ground holding her microphone.
The offer followed a promise Zephyr made earlier Monday when she told supporters at the state house that she plans to continue speaking out against the legislation that some experts and members of the transgender community, including herself, said. Consider a matter of life and death.
Exhale said before entering the house room.
Supporters waved pride flags and chanted “Let her talk!” While she linked the transgender community’s plight against banning gender-affirmation care to the political battles galvanizing other marginalized groups across the United States.
“When communities that see the repercussions of those laws dare to stand up and say, ‘This legislation is killing us,’ those in power are not content with simply passing those harmful, hateful laws,” she said. “What they are asking for is silence. We will not be complicit in our elimination.”
Proponents of the ban see Zephyr’s observations as unprecedented and personal in nature. She and her supporters say they accurately articulate the risks of the legislation under discussion, arguing that restricting gender affirming care puts transgender youth at risk, who many studies suggest suffer disproportionately from depression and higher suicide rates.
exhalation been silenced And intentionally misleading by some Republican lawmakers in response to her remarks last week. She planned to continue trying to speak on the House floor Monday despite Republican leaders insisting it wouldn’t happen until she apologized. House Speaker Matt Rieger and his fellow Republicans have indicated they have no intention of backing down. Near the start of proceedings on Monday, they pushed an item Zephyr had asked to speak on to the end of the agenda.
After speaking and before the House of Representatives convened, Zephyr spoke to some of the crowd who had gathered at the State House in support of her. A 21-year-old from a small town in southwest Montana broke down to tears when he told her about his fears of becoming trans in his community. Others hugged her, thanked her for her fight, and apologized for having to do so.
Katie Spence, a member of the Zephyr family who drove to the Capitol from Missoula on Monday, said the confrontation was about censorship of ideas, not decency.
“She was silenced because she spoke the truth about what Montana’s anti-trans laws are doing to trans youth in particular,” she said.
Months after Zephyr became the first openly transgender woman elected to the Montana legislature, the state has joined a slate of legislators in pass new restrictions on transgender children. Legislation this year dealt with issues ranging from health care that they can access To the sports teams they can play on, to the names they can play for.
The spat began last Tuesday when the House of Representatives was debating amendments proposed by Republican Governor Greg Gianforte to a measure banning gender confirmation sponsorships for minors. Exhale spoke in reference to the opening prayer of the body.
She said, “I hope there will be a supplication next time, when you bow your head in prayer, that you see blood on your hands.”
House Majority Leader Sue Fenton, a Republican, immediately called Zephyr’s comments inappropriate and disrespectful. That evening, a group of conservative lawmakers known as the Montana Freedom Caucus demanded that Zephyr be censured and deliberately referred to her using masculine pronouns in their letter and tweet. This is known as misrepresentation – using pronouns that do not match a person’s gender identity.
A bill banning gender confirmation sponsorship for minors is awaiting Gianforte’s signature. He has indicated that he will sign it. The bill calls for it to go into effect on Oct. 1, but the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal said they would challenge it in court.
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