The American Civil Liberties Union has sued to overturn the Montana Legislature's censure of Democratic state Rep. Zooey Zephyr, arguing that the male-to-female transgender lawmaker's free speech rights were violated based on gender identity.
Republicans in the Montana House have voted to formally punish Democratic state Rep. Zephyr by banning her from attending or speaking during floor sessions. She will be allowed to vote remotely.
The Republican-majority House of Representatives in Montana has barred Zooey Zephyr, the first openly transgender woman elected to the US state's legislature, from attending the remainder of this year's legislative session over her remarks that .