Posted on Apr 26, 2023
Montana GOP doubles down after blocking trans lawmaker from speaking, citing decorum
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https://www.npr.org/2023/04/25/ [login to see] /zooey-zephyr-transgender-montana-house-republicans-blocking-speech-decorum
Since last week, Montana's Republican House Speaker Matt Regier has refused to acknowledge or let Rep. Zooey Zephyr, a Democrat, speak.
Zephyr, who represents parts of Missoula, is the first transgender woman elected to the legislature. She's been blocked from speaking since last Tuesday when she told supporters of a bill to ban gender-affirming care for minors that she hoped they would see "blood on [their] hands," alluding to studies that show that transgender health care can reduce suicidality.
Since last week, Montana's Republican House Speaker Matt Regier has refused to acknowledge or let Rep. Zooey Zephyr, a Democrat, speak.
Zephyr, who represents parts of Missoula, is the first transgender woman elected to the legislature. She's been blocked from speaking since last Tuesday when she told supporters of a bill to ban gender-affirming care for minors that she hoped they would see "blood on [their] hands," alluding to studies that show that transgender health care can reduce suicidality.
Montana GOP doubles down after blocking trans lawmaker from speaking, citing decorum
Posted from npr.org
State of Montana
Transgender
Freedom of Speech
1st Amendment
LGBTQ+
Posted 1 y ago
Responses: 2
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Zephyr’s response
"My constituents and community came up and shouted 'let her speak' – I felt pride in them," Zephyr said outside the Capitol while waiting with the arrested. "Because when they stood up, they are standing on behalf of democracy. They are standing to make sure that their electeds get heard. That the causes they care about don't get silenced."
Republican leaders released a statement calling Monday's events a "riot by far-left agitators" and said they "condemn violence and will always stand for civil debate."
"Protests like that are part of this process," said Democrat Kim Abbott, the House Minority Leader. She disputed Republicans' characterization of the events, saying protestors were non-violent. "Absolutely people have the right to come in a peaceful protest, and that's what they did."
Earlier in the day, before the protest in the House, hundreds of people rallied outside of the Capitol demanding that Zephyr be allowed to speak.
"Leadership has chosen to abandon any notion of integrity," Gwen Nicholson, a Missoula resident, told the crowd, "instead opting for underhanded, anti-democratic cheap tricks to silence speech they don't like in order to pass shameful laws meant to limit freedom, oppress minorities and consolidate power among a select few."
Late last year in an interview, Zephyr told NPR one reason why she decided to run for office in Montana: "Watching bills pass through the legislature by one vote, I cried and I thought to myself, 'I bet I could change one heart, I bet I could change one mind. We need representation in that room. I'm going to try to get in there.' "
Even though work in the House is paused for one day, members are still under a tight deadline. Montana's Constitution says it must adjourn in eight days, and they've yet to finish piecing together a budget, typically their most important task."
..."Zephyr’s response
"My constituents and community came up and shouted 'let her speak' – I felt pride in them," Zephyr said outside the Capitol while waiting with the arrested. "Because when they stood up, they are standing on behalf of democracy. They are standing to make sure that their electeds get heard. That the causes they care about don't get silenced."
Republican leaders released a statement calling Monday's events a "riot by far-left agitators" and said they "condemn violence and will always stand for civil debate."
"Protests like that are part of this process," said Democrat Kim Abbott, the House Minority Leader. She disputed Republicans' characterization of the events, saying protestors were non-violent. "Absolutely people have the right to come in a peaceful protest, and that's what they did."
Earlier in the day, before the protest in the House, hundreds of people rallied outside of the Capitol demanding that Zephyr be allowed to speak.
"Leadership has chosen to abandon any notion of integrity," Gwen Nicholson, a Missoula resident, told the crowd, "instead opting for underhanded, anti-democratic cheap tricks to silence speech they don't like in order to pass shameful laws meant to limit freedom, oppress minorities and consolidate power among a select few."
Late last year in an interview, Zephyr told NPR one reason why she decided to run for office in Montana: "Watching bills pass through the legislature by one vote, I cried and I thought to myself, 'I bet I could change one heart, I bet I could change one mind. We need representation in that room. I'm going to try to get in there.' "
Even though work in the House is paused for one day, members are still under a tight deadline. Montana's Constitution says it must adjourn in eight days, and they've yet to finish piecing together a budget, typically their most important task."
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Sounds like Nadler and the kangaroo court with Trump shutting down Republicans!!!
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