At least five people were arrested Monday afternoon at the Montana State Capitol during a protest after the Speaker of the House refused again to acknowledge a transgender legislator trying to speak on a bill.
Rep. Zooey Zephyr, a Missoula Democrat, was first blocked from engaging in debate on the House floor last week after Speaker of the House Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, deemed her comments on a bill to ban gender-affirming care for trans minors as a violation of decorum.
A protestor is arrested in the gallery of the House of Representatives on Monday in the Montana State Capitol.
A protestor is arrested in the gallery of the House of Representatives during a protest after the Speaker of the House refused again to acknowledge Rep. Zoey Zephyr, D-Missoula, on Monday, April 24, 2023 in the State Capitol.
A protestor is arrested in the gallery of the House of Representatives during a protest after the Speaker of the House refused again to acknowledge Rep. Zoey Zephyr, D-Missoula, on Monday, April 24, 2023 in the State Capitol.
Law enforcement forcibly clear the Montana House of Representatives gallery during a protest after the Speaker of the House refused again to acknowledge Rep. Zoey Zephyr, D-Missoula, on Monday, April 24, 2023 in the State Capitol.
Law enforcement forcibly clear the Montana House of Representatives gallery during a protest after the Speaker of the House refused again to acknowledge Rep. Zoey Zephyr, D-Missoula, on Monday, April 24, 2023 in the State Capitol.
Law enforcement forcibly clear the Montana House of Representatives gallery during a protest after the Speaker of the House refused again to acknowledge Rep. Zoey Zephyr, D-Missoula, on Monday, April 24, 2023 in the State Capitol.
A protestor is arrested in the gallery of the House of Representatives during a protest after the Speaker of the House refused again to acknowledge Rep. Zoey Zephyr, D-Missoula, on Monday, April 24, 2023 in the State Capitol.
Law enforcement forcibly clear the Montana House of Representatives gallery during a protest after the Speaker of the House refused again to acknowledge Rep. Zoey Zephyr, D-Missoula, on Monday, April 24, 2023 in the State Capitol.
Law enforcement forcibly clear the Montana House of Representatives gallery during a protest after the Speaker of the House refused again to acknowledge Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, on Monday in the State Capitol.
Rep. Zoey Zephyr, D-Missoula, speaks with an arrested protestor on Monday outside the Montana State Capitol.
Law enforcement forcibly clear the Montana House of Representatives gallery during a protest after the Speaker of the House refused again to acknowledge Rep. Zoey Zephyr, D-Missoula, on Monday, April 24, 2023 in the State Capitol.
Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, alone on the House floor, stands in protest as demonstrators are arrested in the gallery on Monday in the Montana State Capitol.
Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, alone on the House floor stands in protest as demonstrators are arrested in the house gallery on Monday in the Montana State Capitol.
Rep. Zoey Zephyr, D-Missoula, alone on the house floor stands in protest as demonstrators are arrested in the house gallery on Monday, April 24, 2023 in the Montana State Capitol.
Supporters of Rep. Zoey Zephyr, D-Missoula, rally on the steps of the Montana State Capitol on Monday, April 24, 2023. Zephyr has not been recognized during debate in the House of Representatives since last week.
Rep. Zoey Zephyr, D-Missoula, waves to supporters during a rally on the steps of the Montana State Capitol on Monday, April 24, 2023. Zephyr has not been recognized during debate in the House of Representatives since last week.
Demonstrators hold a sign that reads "Democracy dies here" on the steps of the Montana State Capitol on Monday.
Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, during rally on the steps of the Montana State Capitol on Monday. Zephyr has not been recognized during debate in the House of Representatives since last week.
Supporters of Rep. Zoey Zephyr, D-Missoula, rally on the steps of the Montana State Capitol on Monday, April 24, 2023. Zephyr has not been recognized during debate in the House of Representatives since last week.
Rep. SJ Howell, D-Missoula, speaks during a rally on the steps of the Montana State Capitol on Monday, April 24, 2023. Zephyr has not been recognized during debate in the House of Representatives since last week.
Rep. Zoey Zephyr, D-Missoula, speaks at a rally on the steps of the Montana State Capitol on Monday, April 24, 2023. Zephyr has not been recognized during debate in the House of Representatives since last week.
Rep. Zoey Zephyr, D-Missoula, speaks at a rally on the steps of the Montana State Capitol on Monday, April 24, 2023. Zephyr has not been recognized during debate in the House of Representatives since last week.
Rep. Zoey Zephyr, D-Missoula, votes on the house floor of the Montana State Capitol on Monday, April 24, 2023. Zephyr has not been recognized during debate in the House of Representatives since last week.
HELENA, Mont. — Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr began her first day in legislative exile Thursday with renewed confidence that Republican lawmakers' unprecedented vote to silence her has only amplified her message to constituents at home and others watching across the nation.
The swift punishment brought down on Zooey Zephyr, a transgender lawmaker in Montana, began over words that others in American politics have used without hesitation or consequence: saying opponents have “blood” on their hands.
Access to gender-affirming care is taking center stage in state governments across the U.S., with some states passing restrictions and others protections.
The banishment of transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr from Montana's House floor has showcased the rising power of hard-line conservatives organized under the banner of the State Freedom Caucus Network.
Bud Light's parent company said Thursday it will triple its marketing spending in the U.S. this summer as it tries to boost sales that plummeted after the brand partnered with a transgender influencer.
San Francisco has named the nation's first drag laureate to represent the city’s famous LGBTQ+ community at a time when rights are under attack.
So-called model legislation has been used in statehouses for decades. Now, critics say model legislation allows a handful of far-right groups to create a false narrative around gender-affirming care for minors that is based on distorted science.
Montana state Rep. Zooey Zephyr and legislative researcher Erin Reed have emerged as a power couple spreading hope to fellow transgender people, and their engagement has been a bright spot for many amid a challenging year.
