On Friday, Montana Republican Governor Greg Gianforte signed a bill into law that restricts gender surgeries and therapies for minors, becoming at least the 15th state to pass similar legislation to protect children.
The bill, which prohibits transitional hormone treatments and surgeries for minors, caused major controversy.
During debates over the bill, trans lawmaker Rep. Zooey Zephyr claimed that Republicans who supported the law would have “blood on their hands” and that outlawing transition procedures is “unconstitutional and cruel.”
Rep. Zooey Zephyr is a biological male who pretends to be a woman.
Republican Speaker Rep. Matt Regier demanded that Zephyr apologize before being allowed to speak again in the chamber.
The decision to take disciplinary action against Rep. Zephyr angered radical left-wing activists who stormed the capitol on Monday shutting down proceedings, chanting and yelling, “Let Her Speak!”
Seven insurrectionists were arrested.
Rep. Zephyr appeared on MSNBC Saturday to complain about the new Montana law.
Watch:
On Wednesday, GOP lawmakers voted to ban Rep. Zephyr from the House floor for the rest of 2023, following the insurrection at the state Capitol.
“Zephyr can vote remotely under the terms of the punishment handed down by lawmakers.” Fox News reported.
“Currently, all representatives are free to participate in House debates while following the House rules,” Republican Speaker Matt Regier told reporters. “The choice to not follow the 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.”
Gov. Gianforte’s office released a statement, following the signing of the bill:
“He [Gianforte] is committed to protecting Montana’s children from invasive medical treatments that can permanently alter their healthy, developing bodies,” the governor’s spokeswoman, Kaitlin Price, said in an email.
