[ [link removed]- ]Sign the petition to support Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr and reject
Republican anti-democratic censorship and bullying.
Dear MoveOn member,
Montana Republicans have censored and disciplined Montana Representative
Zooey Zephyr, barring her from the chamber simply for speaking her mind.
Rep. Zephyr is the first openly transgender woman to be elected to the
Montana House of Representatives. After several attempts by the Montana
GOP to pass anti-trans bills over the last few weeks in session, Rep.
Zephyr spoke passionately to convey just how dangerous and violent any
legislation would be that sought to limit or eliminate the rights of
transgender people to seek gender-affirming care in Montana. Now they're
viciously seeking to silence her voice by barring her from participating
in the legislative session entirely.^1
Republicans claim it's because Rep. Zephyr used strong language like
"blood on your hands" and demanded that she apologize—but many notable
Republicans have used this exact same language and rhetoric for years.^2
They're only fighting back now because the words come from a progressive
transgender woman speaking openly about trans issues. [ [link removed]- ]We cannot allow
Republicans' blatant transphobia and anti-trans agenda to impede Rep.
Zephyr's ability to support and voice concerns for her constituents.
Montana Republicans are viciously seeking to silence Representative Zooey
Zephyr. This anti-LGBTQ+ censorship needs to stop.
[3]Sign the petition
Republicans have been preventing Rep. Zephyr from speaking for days now.
But she is continuing to work for her constituents from a bench in the
hallway outside the chamber.^3 Montana Republicans are using exactly the
same playbook that Republicans did weeks ago in Tennessee, using their
super majorities in state legislatures to launch extremist tactics to
silence opposition by punishing voices they disagree with—especially when
those voices come from the very communities they seek to marginalize.
When their backs are against the wall, instead of choosing to effectively
govern to the will of the people, Republicans will try to take our voices
and our rights away entirely. But we cannot let this happen. People showed
up to elect Rep. Zephyr in 2022, and since Republicans are preventing her
from speaking, they’re effectively silencing the will and voices of
thousands of her constituents.
Show your solidarity and demand the Montana GOP #LetHerSpeak.
[ [link removed]- ]Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to
your friends.
Thanks for all you do.
–Nakia, Allison, Corinne, Kenia, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "Montana House Bans Trans Lawmaker From Floor In Landslide
Vote," Forbes, April 26, 2023
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2. "‘Blood on your hands’: Montana lawmaker’s words not unusual," AP News,
April 27, 2023
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3. "A Transgender Lawmaker Is Exiled as Montana G.O.P. Flexes New Power,"
The New York Times, April 28, 2023
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