Montana Representative Zooey Zephyr, a transgender state House member, has been prevented by her Republican colleagues from debating a bill on the House floor that would ban gender-affirming care for minors. A letter from GOP House leaders Tuesday night revealed that a motion will be presented on Wednesday afternoon to determine whether her actions during a rally Monday on her behalf necessitate "disciplinary consequences." The Missoula Democrat is likely to either be censured or expelled during a House session at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
On Monday, seven people were arrested by riot police for protesting in the House chambers in support of Zephyrs, while dozens more rallied on the steps of the state Capitol. The gallery will be closed in response to these arrests.
Republican state House Speaker Matt Regier has since refused to allow Zephyr to speak unless she apologizes for her comments criticizing an anti-LGBTQ+ bill aiming to ban gender-affirming care for minors. He claims she had breached decorum and violated the rules, collective rights, safety, dignity, integrity or decorum of the house with her previous statements. However, Zephyr has challenged Regier's allegations and received an outpouring of support through protests and petitions urging him to let her speak.
The conservative Montana Freedom Caucus also pushed for Zephyr's censure and referred to her as male in one tweet. The house session was canceled on Tuesday allowing lawmakers time deciding about Zooey’s future which garnered over 3,000 signatures supporting their cause.
"The vote against me is not unique," said Democratic state Rep. Zooey Zephyr who mentioned similar events where two Tennessee Democrats were expelled earlier this month after joining protests calling for gun reform following Nashville school shooting.
As tensions continue around this controversial disciplinary action against Representative Zooey Zephyr based upon their expressed opinions about vital legislation, the Montana House of Representatives will hold a vote on Wednesday to determine whether or not Zephyr should be censured or expelled from her position.