Montana transgender lawmaker faces censure or expulsion

“Republicans are doubling down on their agenda of running roughshod over Montanans’ rights — to free expression, to peaceful protest, to equal justice under the law,” House Minority Leader Kim Abbott said of the plan to discipline Zephyr.

By

National News

April 26, 2023 - 4:07 PM

Photo by Juan Moyano/Dreamstime/TNS

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana Republican leaders will vote Wednesday on censuring or expelling lawmaker Zooey Zephyr, a transgender state representative who’s been silenced on the state House floor since last week after telling colleagues they would “have blood on their hands” over their votes to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender children.

Zephyr’s supporters disrupted Monday’s House session and authorities arrested seven people in a confrontation that Republicans claim Zephyr had encouraged. The first-term Democrat received notice from House leaders Tuesday night informing her of the plan to consider disciplinary action against her, according to a letter she posted on social media.

“I’ve also been told I’ll get a chance to speak,” Zephyr tweeted. “I will do as I have always done — rise on behalf of my constituents, in defense of my community and for democracy itself.”

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