The censoring of a radical transgender lawmaker led to riot police being called to suppress a pro-trans riot in the Montana Capitol building. Zooey Zephyr, a Democrat and the state’s first openly transgender legislator, led a cohort of activists into the Capitol after being censored by the legislature for ‘hate-filled testimony.’ Zephyr and her band of supporters staged a loud and unruly riot in support of ‘trans and queer Montanans,’ which led to multiple people being arrested by the state’s Riot Police and state Republicans demanding an apology. The ultimate catalyst for the riot, and Zephyr’s censoring, was Senate Bill 99, which would prohibit minors from having a sex change operation.
NEW YORK POST: Riot police descend on Montana Capitol as left-wing protesters shut down proceedings: reports
By Brandon Gillespie; April 25, 2023
Riot police have descended on Montana’s Capitol after left-wing protesters disrupted proceedings in the state House of Representatives in support of transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr, a Democrat, who was censured by the body last week, multiple reports have said.
According to the Independent, an unknown number of protesters were arrested Monday when police units from the Montana Highway Patrol and the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office commenced an operation to break up the group packing the observation gallery of the House chamber.
The group chanted, “Let her speak!” for “nearly half an hour,” according to another report, bringing the session to a halt in support of ending the censure against Zephyr.
Zephyr, a bisexual and the first transgender lawmaker in Montana legislature history, drew criticism Tuesday after telling Republicans during a House floor debate on amendments to Senate Bill 99, which would prohibit sex change treatment for minors, that they have “blood on your hands,” a notion the lawmaker hopes will be present in their prayers.
“The only thing I will say is, 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,” Zephyr said, referencing the body’s opening prayer.
Zephyr’s comments led to the House voting in favor of the lawmaker’s censure on Thursday, citing “hate-filled testimony.”
“I want to be clear: No amount of silencing tactics will deter me from standing up for the rights of the transgender community,” Zephyr said following the censure. “I will not apologize for speaking with clarity and precision about the harm these bills cause. Montana Republicans say they want an apology, but what they really want is silence as they take away the rights of trans and queer Montanans.”
The bill ultimately passed both the state House and Senate, and was sent to Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte’s desk on Friday. He is expected to sign the bill into law.
Photo: AP