Police in riot gear forcibly removed and arrested several protesters who chanted “Let her speak” in the Montana House of Representatives Monday after Rep. Zooey Zephyr, a Missoula Democrat, was blocked from speaking on a bill. Zephyr, the first transgender woman elected to office, was first blocked from speaking last week after she told supporters of a bill to ban gender-affirming care for minors to “see the blood on their hands.”
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.
Transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr was barred from participating on the House floor as Republican leaders voted Wednesday to silence her for the rest of 2023.
Republican leaders voted Wednesday to silence Zephyr for the rest of the 2023 session after she protested GOP leaders’ decision earlier in the week to silence her.