Rep. Zephyr: Montana State House ‘systematically attacked’ LGBTQ+ community

Montana State Representative Zooey Zephyr accused the legislative body of “systematically attacking” the LGBTQ+ community while speaking in her defense ahead of a disciplinary vote. Rep. Zephyr told state lawmakers they would “have blood on their hands” if they supported a statewide bill to ban gender-affirming care for minors; her comments led to protests in the chambers. “We have seen bills targeting our art forms, our books, our history and our healthcare. And I rose up in defense of my community,” Rep. Zephyr said. In a 68-32 vote Wednesday, the Montana State House voted to bar Representative Zooey Zephyr from speaking on the chamber’s floors for the remainder of the 2023 legislative session.