Montana GOP misgenders trans colleague while demanding censure for her language
PBS NewsHourDec 24, 2022
The Facts
On Wednesday, the Montana House of Representatives voted 68-32 to censure transgender state Rep. Zooey Zephyr (D) for allegedly encouraging demonstrators and disrupting proceedings following comments made by the lawmaker in response to a GOP-led bill to ban puberty blockers for minors.
Last week Zephyr told GOP lawmakers, "If you vote yes on this bill, and yes on these amendments, I hope the next time there’s an invocation when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands."
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Montana Republicans aren't just upset that Zephyr encouraged her constituents to exercise their right to protest, but the issue behind the protests as well. The GOP is trying to criminalize gender-affirming care nationwide, which is why they want to silence any opposition to their anti-trans agenda before it can gain public traction. The Montana House is violating both trans rights and freedom of speech all in one fell swoop.
Republican narrative
Zephyr violated the House rules not only by encouraging protesters to interrupt an official floor debate but also demeaning the state government body through slanderous and vile personal attacks against fellow lawmakers. If you claim to be fighting for democracy, you shouldn't encourage mobs to disrupt floor debates between democratically-elected officeholders set to vote on an important issue.
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