Montana lawmakers, including both Democrats and Republicans, recently voted down a proposed measure that sought to ban the state's first transgender legislator from using women's restrooms at the State Capitol. The Democratic state Rep. Zooey Zephyr, who was elected in 2022, expressed gratitude towards her colleagues, particularly the Republican members, for recognizing the proposed ban as a distraction from their legislative duties.
The measure, introduced by Republican state Rep. Jerry Schillinger, aimed to require legislators to use restrooms based on their assigned sex at birth. Despite not directly naming Zephyr, the motion was met with opposition from all Democrats and several Republicans who viewed it as unnecessary and diverting attention from important legislative work.
Republican state Rep. David Bedey, who did not support the bathroom ban, emphasized that while he holds his own views on gender dysphoria, he believed the measure would only serve to attract national attention and hinder the effective functioning of the legislative body.
This proposed ban in Montana mirrors a broader national effort by some Republicans to restrict transgender individuals' restroom access, as seen in the case of Democratic Rep.-elect Sarah McBride at the US Capitol. The resolution regarding single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings is still pending a vote.
Republican state Rep. Jedediah Hinkle, who supported the Montana motion, highlighted the discomfort expressed by some female lawmakers regarding sharing bathrooms with transgender individuals. He stressed the importance of addressing the issue at hand, echoing sentiments raised at the national level.
Notably, Rep. Zephyr had faced previous repercussions in 2023 when Montana Republicans banned her from the House chamber for remarks critical of GOP lawmakers. Despite this, she was re-elected this year, continuing to advocate for transgender rights within the legislative arena.
