Transgender Montana Lawmaker Faces Disciplinary Action

During this week's legislative session, a Republican speaker refused to allow a transgender lawmaker to speak during several sessions, which triggered a protest.

The GOP leaders of the House and House Speaker Matt Regier, of Kalispell, sent Zooey Zephyr a letter Tuesday warning her of the consequences of her actions on the House floor during Monday's protest.

The motion will be put to a vote at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, to determine whether Zephyr violated the state constitution by violating rules, collective rights, safety, dignity, integrity, or decorum.

As a result of a protest Monday in the State House gallery that interrupted the legislative session, several people were arrested. After Zephyr said Republicans would have "blood on your hands" if they approved a bill to ban gender-affirming care for minors on April 18, she has been denied the chance to speak on the House floor three times since then.

In late March, Zephyr, 34, held a gun control protest in the Tennessee Capitol that drew Republican backlash, becoming the state's first openly transgender female lawmaker. She has refused to apologize for her remarks targeting Republicans.

"I would stand by what I said if I were to do it again, because I see the harm these bills cause," she said.

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