Republicans barred him from sitting in parliament because of his firm opposition to a law that makes transitional care inaccessible to minors. He is accused of disrespectful remarks.
Montana Republicans on Wednesday banned an elected transgender Democrat from sitting in the northern state of the United States, because of her vehement opposition to a law that makes transitional care inaccessible to minors.
Already banned from speaking for almost a week, Zooey Zephyr is now suspended until the end of the parliamentary session, according to a disciplinary measure approved by the Republican majority.
Montana’s only transgender parliamentarian will simply be able to vote remotely. Local Republicans accuse him of remarks deemed not to respect protocol.
Republicans should “be ashamed” according to the elected official
Last week, Zooey Zephyr said his colleagues should “be ashamed” of passing a law prohibiting the delivery of hormonal treatments to transgender minors to ensure their transition.
“The next time (…) that you bow your head to pray, I hope you will see the blood on your hands”, had launched the elected address of the Republicans who adopted this text.
Zooey Zephyr denounced her exclusion on Wednesday as an attack on democracy and an affront to the LGBT+ community. “When I stood up to say there is blood on your hands, I was not hyperbole,” she insisted in a speech before the vote, saying that many transgender people commit suicide because of laws aimed at them.
She once again refused to apologize, which the Republican speaker of the local parliament demands to reinstate her.
“If you use decorum to silence people who hold you accountable, you are only using decorum as a tool of oppression,” she argued.
