Silenced Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr sues to return to statehouse

Transgender Montana lawmaker Zooey Zephyr filed a lawsuit Monday seeking full reinstatement after her censure and removal from the statehouse floor.

Zephyr, a Democrat from Missoula, was prevented from speaking or voting on the House floor last week, with days remaining in the 2023 legislative session. She was allowed to cast votes remotely.

Zephyr, 34, argued that her constituents were being denied their constitutional right to representation in state government “because I dared to give voice to the values and needs of transgender people like myself.”

During debate over a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender teenagers, Zephyr said her colleagues would have “blood on their hands” if the bill passed. Gender-affirming care lowers suicide risk for transgender minors, according to several scientific studies.

Though the phrase “blood on their hands” is common in political debate, Zephyr’s Republican colleagues censured her. Zephyr’s constituents joined her lawsuit and argued for reinstatement.

“Suicide amongst transgender youth is not imaginary,” said Missoula County resident Anna Wong, mother to a trans child. “It is not a game and it is not a political foil. It is real. It is heartbreaking. And it is the responsibility of my representative to speak out against bills promoting it.”

Days after Zephyr was removed, the state legislature passed the bill, making Montana one of at least 15 states banning gender-affirming care for people under 18.

Though Montana’s legislative session is almost complete, state lawmakers still have to finish possibly their most important task: setting the state budget for the next two years.

Zephyr’s lawsuit also cited similar cases across the country. A few years ago, Oregon state senator Brian Boquist, a hard-right Republican, made thinly veiled threats against police officers in the statehouse. Last year, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that any restrictions on his access to the building violated his freedom of speech.

With News Wire Services