#Rep Zooey Zephyr

[karen-anti-r-cml]

April 24, 2023: Rep Zooey Zephyr, Montana State Democratic Representative who just happens to be a Transgender Woman has been Forbidden from Participating in Debates by republican-confederate maga loyalist for 3 Days in a row

This is not simply R-CML talking over Her or ignoring Her

The R-CML Voted for a 3rd Time to Continue Subjecting Zephyr to a Gag Order, Denying Her the chance To Speak.

But

This time Her Supporters were there and They Started Chanting “Let Her Speak!” from the Gallery.

It's important to note Her Supporters Who Were There, Were the PEOPLE of Montana who just Elected Her to Represent Them, Not Only in D.C., but also In Montana.

The republican-confederate maga loyalist Led House Denied PEOPLE OF MONTANA THEIR VOICE!!!

One CBS reporter wrote the PEOPLE'S Voices Were "Forcing legislative leaders [R-CML] to pause proceedings and clear the room."

But

Were the PEOPLE the cause, or was it a Group of FASCIST Silencing the Voices of PEOPLE Who Disagree With Them?

The PEOPLE Came to the House Peacefully, to Hear Their Representative Speak on Matters Important to Them.

The Democratic Way, Would've Been to Hear the Voice of the PEOPLE, Not to Send Armed Law Enforcement to Force The PEOPLE Out and Silence Their Voices

But

The R-CML Did Send Armed Law Enforcement To the Gallery Above the House Floor to Force Out PEOPLE Standing and Chanting "LET HER SPEAK"

Seven, 7 PEOPLE Who Disagreed With the R-CML were Arrested for Criminal Trespass, Criminal Trespass For Chanting.

Sheriff Leo C. Dutton said. The PEOPLE Arrested were going to be booked and released.

Before the House Session began there was a Peaceful Rally to Show Support for Rep Zooey Zephyr

The Capital Statue behind Her Supporter is Interesting to me, because it's depicting Union Brigadier General Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irish Immigrant who was a Famous Revolutionary in Ireland and a Loyal United States Citizen During The Civil War.

January 1847: Meagher, John Mitchel, William Smith O'Brien, and Thomas Devin Reilly formed The Irish Confederation.

The Irish Confederation was for a National Parliament with Full Legislative and Executive Powers. The Founding was based on Principles of Freedom, Tolerance and Truth

Their goal was Independence for the Irish Nation from Britain and they held to any means to achieve that which were consistent with Honor, Morality and Reason.

July 1848: After a failed Rebellion that end The Irish Confederation Meagher Escaped, Came to the U.S. and Became a U.S. Citizen

His Reason Given for Loyalty to the United States During the Civil War...

"It is not only our duty to America, but also to Ireland. We Could Not Hope to Succeed in our effort To Make Ireland a Republic Without the Moral and Material Support of the Liberty-Loving Citizens Of These United States."

Meagher had supported the South, but disagreed over the issue of slavery.

The republican-confederate maga loyalist seem to have Nothing I Common With Thomas Francis Meagher

`1/

"Montana transgender lawmaker silenced again, backers protest"

"Montana transgender lawmaker silenced for third day; protesters interrupt House proceedings"

"Thomas Francis Meagher"

"Union Brigadier General/Politician Thomas Francis Meagher"

[foxsoulcourt]

another elected official punished in the US

The article from Daily Montanan, 26 April 2023 shares that the Montana GOP's undemocratic decision to ban her from participating in debate on the House floor was 68-32 along party lines.

It's cold comfort that Rep Zephyr will be able to vote remotely.

[the-cimmerians]

Monday, Zephyr, with help from the Montana ACLU, filed a lawsuit in state court asking for an emergency injunction returning her to the House floor for whatever days remain in the session, arguing that her First Amendment rights had been stomped on. The suit also names several of her constituents as plaintiffs, arguing that the House's action effectively denied them and the rest of Zephyr's 11,000 constituents representation.

The AP interviewed one of those plaintiffs, Anna Wong, who has a transgender child and said she'd voted for Zephyr in 2022 because she knew Zephyr would "speak out against the onslaught of bills targeting transgender youth."

“Suicide amongst transgender youth is not imaginary,” Wong said. “It is not a game and it is not a political foil. It is real. It is heartbreaking. And it is the responsibility of my representative to speak out against bills promoting it.”

That's exactly what Zephyr was getting at when she spoke against Senate Bill 99, which bans gender-affirming care for trans youth. Zephyr accurately said forcing trans kids to undergo puberty as the sex they don't identify is "tantamount to torture" and said she hoped that those voting for the bill would "see the blood on your hands" the next time they pray during a House invocation.

***

Zephyr has, since last week's vote, been dutifully showing up and sitting on a bench near the entrance to the House chamber to work on her laptop, although yesterday when she arrived, she found the bench had been taken already. So she worked at a table instead, standing up for her community. [ ]  But who were those ladies who made a point of arriving early to occupy the bench where Zephyr had been sitting? Ha ha it was a very funny trick by the wives of several prominent Republicans in the state Lege, including Jolene Regier, the mother of Speaker Matt Regier and wife of Senator Keith Regier.

***

But also this morning, some unidentified opponent of trans rights took a less harmless approach to trying to silence Zephyr, calling the police in an attempt to send a SWAT team to the home of Zephyr's partner, journalist Erin Reed. Such SWATting attempts have resulted in at least two deaths — one from a police shooting, one from a heart attack — and many incidents in which police arrived at someone's door ready to use deadly force against a nonexistent threat.

[toodeeptobeshowerthoughts]

I want love. I want to be loved. I want to love. I want love like that. Like Erin and Zooey. They are real . They exist and love like that exists. I just want it to exist for me too. I want to go to pride and meet the love of my life. I cant so I just watch from far away and wish and wish and wish and wish and dream till I successfully manifest it. When I finally do I think I might be so overwhelmed I might cry . Oh I definitely will cry alright. Like I am now. And I’ll be welcomed into the community -that I've been a part of but never got to be in the presence of -with open arms and wide smiles and lots of understanding and lots more of happiness and pride. I just wish it were now. But atleast I believe enough that it’ll definitely happen. And that’s why I am still alive. That’s why I keep going and keep trying again. That’s why I’ll sleep peacefully tonight.

[pitterpatterletsgetater2]

I haven’t seen a lot of talk about this, and I know we’re all emotionally/mentally exhausted in the USA with rights being stripped, but I think this is important. She’s a brave fucking woman, who is no longer allowed to speak for the people she represents.

Much like the Pearson and Jones expulsion, this is a flagrant move against democracy. However unlike P&J, she wasn’t expelled, just not allowed into the House meetings and not able to speak. She can vote, at least, but…that’s not much in a republican majority.

[wilwheaton]

Republicans across the country are waging a movement to remove and censure Democratic lawmakers simply for speaking out against the GOP — a movement that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, is saying is the next natural step after the GOP-backed attempted coup on January 6, 2021. On Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez spoke at a rally with Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., and Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones (D), who Republicans voted to expel from the legislature earlier this month. At the rally, she said that the January 6 attack was just one of the first steps toward the GOP's goal of total political control; rather than a large, violent coup, the GOP is implementing a slow takeover across the country. "For [Republicans], January 6 was just a dress rehearsal. Because, legally, let's not lose the plot: They were trying to block a duly elected official, in this case the president of the United States, from taking office," she said. "Legislatures across the country looked at that and [said], 'you know what? Let's try to get Representative Jones out from office. Let's try to get Rep. Zooey Zephyr in Montana out of office. Let's try to kick out the people because we cannot beat them,'" continued Ocasio-Cortez. "That is their motive."

AOC: “January 6 was a dress rehearsal” for GOP campaign to expel Democrats

[uncanny-tranny]

In montana US today, I was present for the censuring of trans rep Zooey Zephyr. She has been forbidden from speaking and from entering the chamber for the rest of the year. Please help raise awareness of them silencing our voices in this small state.

I've been sort of keeping tabs on her, it's genuinely fucked up and horrifying. While it's not surprising, it's still horrifying to know that democracy isn't necessarily what is important to America. She was voted in, and she is representing her constituents. Or she should be, rather. If you are out protesting in Montana, please be safe. Keep each other safe. You have people who want your voices heard.

Let Zooey Zephyr speak. Montanans deserve a voice.

[genderkoolaid]

Some trans joy for today: Montana Rep. Zooey Zephry, the trans politician who has been forced out of the legislative chamber for speaking out & shaming transphobia, has proposed to her girlfriend- who happens to be the trans woman who created a map tracking transphobic laws in the US! Here's her substack talking about their relationship (& also a video of it), it's very sweet :]

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

The first openly transgender state representative in Montana history is facing either censure or outright expulsion, after she said Republicans would have “blood on their hands” for passing a ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

Rep. Zooey Zephyr was sworn in just three months ago after winning a Missoula-based seat in November. GOP leaders have refused to recognize her in floor debates until she apologizes for the comment. On Monday, supporters rallied on the steps of the state Capitol, and chants of “Let her speak!” shut down proceedings in the House for nearly a half-hour, as Zephyr hoisted her microphone above her head.

On Tuesday, Zephyr tweeted a letter she received from leaders in the Republican-controlled chamber declaring their intention to bring a motion “with respect to the conduct of Representative Zooey Zephyr.”

The House will “determine if [Zephyr]’s conduct on the Floor of the House on April 24, 2023 violated the rules, collective rights, safety, dignity, integrity, or decorum of the House of Representatives, and if so, whether to impose disciplinary consequences for those actions,” according to the letter sent to Zephyr. The House will meet Wednesday afternoon.

“I have been informed that during tomorrow’s floor session there will be a motion to either censure or expel me,” Zephyr said in a Tuesday tweet. “I’ve also been told I’ll get a chance to speak. I will do as I have always done—rise on behalf of my constituents, in defense of my community, & for democracy itself.”

Zephyr’s clash with the GOP began last week when she made the comment during a floor debate on the transition care ban. Since then, Republicans have refused to let her participate in floor debates entirely, even when she’s requested to speak last week, the far-right Montana Freedom Caucus demanded Zephyr’s immediate censure while misgendering her in their statement.

The move to silence Zephyr has been met with fierce protests. On Monday, supporters rallied on the steps of the state Capitol, and chants of “Let her speak!” shut down proceedings in the House for nearly a half-hour, as Zephyr hoisted her microphone above her head.

Riot cops who were called to the chamber arrested seven protesters. Republicans claimed that the protests had turned violent, though the protesters were charged only with criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor. In the letter, Republican leaders said the House gallery, where Montana citizens are able to watch proceedings, will be closed Wednesday during the debate on whether to punish Zephyr.

“It’s not enough for them to get the harmful bills through,” Zephyr told reporters Monday. “When someone stands up and calls out their bills for the harm they cause, for the deaths they cause, they want silence. And we will not be complicit in our eradication.”

Montana House Speaker Matt Regier said in a statement Tuesday that “the choice not to follow House rules is one that Rep. Zephyr has made.”

“The only person silencing Rep. Zephyr is Rep. Zephyr. The Montana House will not be bullied,” Regier said.

Tensions have escalated in state legislatures such as Montana’s this year, as Republicans across the country have used simple rules violations as a pretext to crack down on dissent.

Earlier this month, the Tennessee House of Representatives expelled two young Black lawmakers, Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis and Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville, and nearly expelled a third white lawmaker from Knoxville, after the trio protested for gun law reforms in the wake of the Covenant School shooting in Nashville in March.

The move, however, backfired spectacularly. Pearson and Jones became national figures overnight, they were quickly re-appointed to the seats they’d been expelled from, and both are expected to run in special elections to determine a replacement for, well, themselves. They met with President Joe Biden at the White House earlier this week.

Tennessee Republicans have also drawn increased scrutiny to themselves, after expelling Jones and Pearson for bringing “disorder and dishonor” to the legislature; a member of the leadership abruptly resigned last week after a complaint that he’d sexually harassed an intern became public, and the Speaker of the Tennessee House, Cameron Sexton, has faced new questions about whether he really resides in his district.

On Tuesday, Pearson offered his support to Zephyr in a tweet.

“Voices across the country continue to rise for justice and expose the anti-democratic behavior of people in Republican led states,” Pearson said. “We will not let our democracy die without fighting for every voice. We are in this fight from Memphis to Montana!”

[diamoric-comix]

I originally published this comic on my patreon on May 8th 2023. It is still true today. *Rep. Zooey Zephyr

[chimeramanticore-art]

Transgender Montana state rep. Zooey Zephyr was barred from speaking on the chamber floor for telling lawmakers they would have “blood on their hands” if they banned gender-affirming medical care.

I think we should keep saying it.

(buy the design here, all proceeds will be donated to the national center for transgender equality)

[darkwhimsycreations]

Just like with the Tennessee representatives qe need to be loud for Montana Representative Zooey Zephyr! Call and email your reps! If you need help there are links on my page to contact your reps, help writing letters, etc.

[the-cimmerians]

Rep. Zooey Zephyr, the first transgender woman elected to Montana's legislature, attended a Montana House of Representatives session to oppose an anti-transgender bill that would remove references to transgender individuals from more than 40 sections of state code. The bill, which would define sex in a way that excludes trans people, was one of over a dozen heard this year. The previous day, her strong speech against the gender affirming care ban the state had passed led to the Montana Freedom Caucus calling for her censure while intentionally and repeatedly misgendering her. When she punched in, they refused to recognize her to speak, and instead moved forward to pass the bill.

Tensions flared on the House Floor when the entire Democratic Caucus rose to demand that she be permitted to speak. In a strikingly undemocratic move, Republican House Speaker Regier declined to allow it, asserting that he could refuse to allow anyone to speak at his discretion. When Minority Leader Abbott objected, they moved to a packed rules committee meeting, which upheld the ruling. Following that, the Speaker stated it was his intent to no longer allow Representative Zephyr to speak moving forward.

[kp777]

‘A new generation is rising up’: Young Dems stand up to GOP extremism

MSNBC

April 26, 2023

MSNBC's Ali Velshi is joined by Montana Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr, the trans lawmaker who has been banned from the state house chamber by Montana House Republicans over "decorum" after she spoke out against anti-trans legislation, along with Tennessee Democratic State Rep. Justin Jones and U.S. Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida.

[sg-x00-airgetlam]

Disabled Trans Girl Needs Help Again (Stuck in a Fascist State Edition)

Unfortunately, after several months, I haven't been able to find a job I'm capable of working here. I live in Montana which you might have seen in the news recently for silencing our trans rep Zooey Zephyr, throwing her supporters out of the gallery with riot police, and then passing/signing one of the most transphobic bills into law. It's not quite Florida death penalty stuff, but it's about on par with the horrible Missouri one. Healthcare ban for Trans Youth, taking away insurance coverage, etc.

It's legal to discriminate here in hiring etc for being trans, and my state medicaid coverage is going to stop paying for my hrt later this year. I'm pretty scared of even my city, which was relatively left leaning, becoming more and more hateful. There have been shooting threats made against local queer events even. Also, my housing situation is going to become extremely unstable after July. Bozeman has possibly the single worst housing market in the country.

After a lot of blood tests and scans etc trying to figure out the cause of my worsening chronic fatigue, pain, and digestive issues, my doctor is diagnosing me with fibromyalgia. I'm in constant pain, and I spend a lot of my time in bed each day because I can't even focus on my computer etc with it sometimes. That combined with autism/ptsd is making my life in a city with very little in the way of social resources extremely hard. I am trying to get approved for disability, but it is taking forever.

Ideally, I would like to somehow leave this state and go somewhere more trans friendly. Last time I asked for help, I was able to replace my dead car battery, so I'm able to actually drive now. However, the voltage regulator on my alternator is apparently broken. I'm unsure how soon that will become a bigger issue.

In terms of more immediate problems, I've run out of food again, and I'll need to get more catfood and litter soon. Anything anyone can offer helps a lot.

I can receive payments on my venmo, @ Talon-Battle. (The name should show up as Claire Battle).

Here are some pictures of my cat.

Thank you for reading/reblogging/helping me!