The censured United States Representative Zooey Zephyr of Montana on Tuesday (May 2) lost her legal attempt to rejoin debate on the House floor after the transgender lawmaker was silenced and barred last month for speaking critically to her Republican colleagues over legislation which sought&nbsp;to restrict gender-affirming healthcare in the state.&nbsp;

The last-minute legal attempt by Zephyr, a Democrat, to rejoin Republican-controlled Montana House of Representatives comes as the legislative session could end as soon as Tuesday night. Zephyr was barred from the House floor, anteroom or gallery for the remainder of the legislative session after she decried the signing of the bill.&nbsp;

During the debate, Zephyr said that it was unconscionable to deprive Montanans of “the care that we need.” She also told Republicans they would have “blood on your hands,” which prompted them to cut off her microphone.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-montana-transgender-democrat-leader-barred-from-house-floor-for-586585">US: Montana transgender Democrat leader barred from House floor for 'blood on your hands' comment</a>

After Zephyr's statement, House Majority Leader Sue Vinton stood up and said, “I will note that this is entirely inappropriate, disrespectful and uncalled for. We can debate matters civilly and with respect for each other.”

However, it was not until days later that she was denied floor privileges for encouraging a noisy but peaceful demonstration that disrupted a House session, reported Reuters. Montana Freedom Caucus, last month, deliberately misgendered Zephyr using male pronouns in a letter saying the lawmaker should be censured.&nbsp;

Zephyr had asked a court, on Monday, to allow for her return to the House floor, the ruling for which was announced hours before the legislature planned to wrap up its biennial session. “Plaintiffs’ requested relief would require this Court to interfere with legislative authority in a manner that exceeds this Court’s authority,” said District Court Judge Mike Menahan.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/montana-republicans-bar-transgender-lawmaker-from-house-floor-586737">Montana Republicans bar transgender lawmaker from House floor</a>

“Even if the Court ultimately finds the House of Representatives, Speaker Regier, and Sergeant at Arms Murfitt acted unlawfully under the facts of this case, it does not have the authority to issue a broad permanent injunction to effectively remove all legislative authority…in relation to a single member,” Menahan wrote in his ruling.&nbsp;

After the ruling, Zephyr told The Associated Press that Menahan’s decision was “entirely wrong,” adding that “it’s a really sad day for the country when the majority party can silence representation from the minority party whenever they take issue.” 
 
Meanwhile, The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana, which has previously&nbsp;argued that the speaker of the House&nbsp;and Sergeant at Arms&nbsp;have silenced Zephyr’s constituents, is considering its options including appeal, as per Reuters.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-montana-becomes-latest-state-to-ban-gender-affirming-medical-care-for-transgender-kids-587288">US: Montana becomes latest state to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender kids</a>

After Zephyr’s ouster, the House passed a bill which would punish health professionals who provide care banned by the measure and could have their medical license suspended for at least a year. It also prohibits public property and employees from being involved in gender-affirming treatment.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The censured United States Representative Zooey Zephyr of Montana on Tuesday (May 2) lost her legal attempt to rejoin debate on the House floor after the transgender lawmaker was silenced and barred last month for speaking critically to her Republican colleagues over legislation which sought to restrict gender-affirming healthcare in the state.

The censured United States Representative Zooey Zephyr of Montana on Tuesday (May 2) lost her legal attempt to rejoin debate on the House floor after the transgender lawmaker was silenced and barred last month for speaking critically to her Republican colleagues over legislation which sought to restrict gender-affirming healthcare in the state. The last-minute legal attempt by Zephyr, a Democrat, to rejoin Republican-controlled Montana House of Representatives comes as the legislative session could end as soon as Tuesday night. Zephyr was barred from the House floor, anteroom or gallery for the remainder of the legislative session after she decried the signing of the bill. During the debate, Zephyr said that it was unconscionable to deprive Montanans of “the care that we need.” She also told Republicans they would have “blood on your hands,” which prompted them to cut off her microphone. ALSO READ | US: Montana transgender Democrat leader barred from House floor for 'blood on your hands' comment After Zephyr's statement, House Majority Leader Sue Vinton stood up and said, “I will note that this is entirely inappropriate, disrespectful and uncalled for. We can debate matters civilly and with respect for each other.” However, it was not until days later that she was denied floor privileges for encouraging a noisy but peaceful demonstration that disrupted a House session, reported Reuters. Montana Freedom Caucus, last month, deliberately misgendered Zephyr using male pronouns in a letter saying the lawmaker should be censured. Zephyr had asked a court, on Monday, to allow for her return to the House floor, the ruling for which was announced hours before the legislature planned to wrap up its biennial session. “Plaintiffs’ requested relief would require this Court to interfere with legislative authority in a manner that exceeds this Court’s authority,” said District Court Judge Mike Menahan. ALSO WATCH | Montana Republicans bar transgender lawmaker from House floor “Even if the Court ultimately finds the House of Representatives, Speaker Regier, and Sergeant at Arms Murfitt acted unlawfully under the facts of this case, it does not have the authority to issue a broad permanent injunction to effectively remove all legislative authority…in relation to a single member,” Menahan wrote in his ruling. After the ruling, Zephyr told The Associated Press that Menahan’s decision was “entirely wrong,” adding that “it’s a really sad day for the country when the majority party can silence representation from the minority party whenever they take issue.” Meanwhile, The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana, which has previously argued that the speaker of the House and Sergeant at Arms have silenced Zephyr’s constituents, is considering its options including appeal, as per Reuters. ALSO READ | US: Montana becomes latest state to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender kids After Zephyr’s ouster, the House passed a bill which would punish health professionals who provide care banned by the measure and could have their medical license suspended for at least a year. It also prohibits public property and employees from being involved in gender-affirming treatment. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: Montana's transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr loses legal bid to rejoin House floor

Montana on Friday (April 29) has become the latest American state to ban or restrict gender-affirming medical care for transgender kids. The ban is set to take effect on October 1. According to a report by the news agency Associated Press, Montana is one of at least 15 states to ban such medical care despite protests from the families of transgender kids that the care is important.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-montana-transgender-democrat-leader-barred-from-house-floor-for-586585">Zooey Zephyr, a transgender lawmaker, decried the signing of the bill</a> by saying that it was unconscionable to deprive Montanans of "the care that we need."

“I know that this is an unconstitutional bill. It is as cruel as it is unconstitutional. And it will go down in the courts,” Zephyr said. On Monday, the lawmaker stood defiantly on the House floor with her microphone raised as protesters shouted “Let her speak,” disrupting House proceedings for at least half an hour.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kansas-imposes-sweeping-anti-transgender-bathroom-law-586767">Kansas imposes sweeping anti-transgender bathroom law</a>

She was then banned from the House and its gallery and voted on bills from a bench in the hallway outside the House on Thursday and Friday.&nbsp;

House Speaker Matt Regier refused to let Zephyr speak on the House floor until she apologised and she has not, the report said. And the Montana Freedom Caucus deliberately misgendered Zephyr using male pronouns in a letter saying the lawmaker should be censured.

Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Montana, meanwhile, said they would file a court challenge against the ban. The Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics said the bill is an "overly broad blanket ban" that takes decisions that should be made by families and physicians and put them in the hands of politicians.&nbsp;

As per the new law, health professionals who provide care banned by the measure could have their medical licences suspended for at least a year. Such professionals could be sued in the 25 years following the banned procedure if the patient suffers physical, psychological, emotional or physiological harm. The law states that physicians cannot hold malpractice insurance against such lawsuits. It also prohibits public property and employees from being involved in gender-affirming treatment.

The parents of transgender children in Montana testified the bill infringed on their parental rights to seek medical care for their children.

On April 17, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signaled his willingness to sign the bill when he offered some amendments to make it clear that public funds could not be used to pay for hormone blockers, cross-sex hormones, or surgical procedures. In a letter accompanying the amendments, Gianforte said the bill protects Montana's children from permanent, life-altering medical procedures until they are adults, mature enough to make such serious decisions.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Montana on Friday (April 29) has become the latest American state to ban or restrict gender-affirming medical care for transgender kids. The ban is set to take effect on October 1.

Montana on Friday (April 29) has become the latest American state to ban or restrict gender-affirming medical care for transgender kids. The ban is set to take effect on October 1. According to a report by the news agency Associated Press, Montana is one of at least 15 states to ban such medical care despite protests from the families of transgender kids that the care is important. Zooey Zephyr, a transgender lawmaker, decried the signing of the bill by saying that it was unconscionable to deprive Montanans of "the care that we need." “I know that this is an unconstitutional bill. It is as cruel as it is unconstitutional. And it will go down in the courts,” Zephyr said. On Monday, the lawmaker stood defiantly on the House floor with her microphone raised as protesters shouted “Let her speak,” disrupting House proceedings for at least half an hour. ALSO READ | Kansas imposes sweeping anti-transgender bathroom law She was then banned from the House and its gallery and voted on bills from a bench in the hallway outside the House on Thursday and Friday. House Speaker Matt Regier refused to let Zephyr speak on the House floor until she apologised and she has not, the report said. And the Montana Freedom Caucus deliberately misgendered Zephyr using male pronouns in a letter saying the lawmaker should be censured. Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Montana, meanwhile, said they would file a court challenge against the ban. The Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics said the bill is an "overly broad blanket ban" that takes decisions that should be made by families and physicians and put them in the hands of politicians. As per the new law, health professionals who provide care banned by the measure could have their medical licences suspended for at least a year. Such professionals could be sued in the 25 years following the banned procedure if the patient suffers physical, psychological, emotional or physiological harm. The law states that physicians cannot hold malpractice insurance against such lawsuits. It also prohibits public property and employees from being involved in gender-affirming treatment. The parents of transgender children in Montana testified the bill infringed on their parental rights to seek medical care for their children. On April 17, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signaled his willingness to sign the bill when he offered some amendments to make it clear that public funds could not be used to pay for hormone blockers, cross-sex hormones, or surgical procedures. In a letter accompanying the amendments, Gianforte said the bill protects Montana's children from permanent, life-altering medical procedures until they are adults, mature enough to make such serious decisions. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: Montana becomes latest state to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender kids

zooey-zephyr

Zooey Zephyr, News on Zooey Zephyr, stories on Zooey Zephyr, articles on Zooey Zephyr, Zooey Zephyr stories at Wion, Zooey Zephyr news, Zooey Zephyr latest news

zooey zephyr

US: Montana's transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr loses legal bid to rejoin House floor

US: Montana becomes latest state to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender kids