Transgender Legislator Says Colleagues Have Blood on Their Hands

Montana State Rep. Zooey Zephyr (D), the first openly transgender individual to be elected to the Montana state legislature, faces criticism after comments he made regarding legislation that would prohibit minors from receiving sex change procedures.

“The only thing I will say is if you vote yes on this bill and yes on these amendments I hope the next time there’s an invocation when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands,” Zephyr said during debate on the legislation.

WATCH:

Rep Zooey Zephyr of Missoula said the following when debating SB99 Amendments.

“The only thing I will say is if you vote yes on this bill and yes on these amendments I hope the next time there’s an invocation when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands.” pic.twitter.com/wuhlympbLq

— Montana Freedom Caucus (@MTFreedomCaucus) April 18, 2023

“Our Caucus is calling for the immediate censure of transgender Rep. Zooey Zephyr after his threatening and deeply concerning comments on the House floor earlier today,” the Montana Freedom Caucus wrote.

“The Montana Freedom Caucus demands Representative Zooey Zephyr of Missoula’s House District 100 be censured by the House for attempting to shame the Montana legislative body and by using inappropriate and un-called for language during a floor debate over amendments concerning Senate Bill 99 – to ban sex changes of minor children,” the Montana Freedom Caucus wrote in a press release.

“This bill already passed the Montana House and Senate, and the debate was over amendments requested by the Governor. The amendments were concurred in on a 66-34 vote. This bill is important because it protects minor children from forced life-altering and unnecessary surgical procedures.”

Our Caucus is calling for the immediate censure of transgender Rep. Zooey Zephyr after his threatening and deeply concerning comments on the House floor earlier today. #mtpol pic.twitter.com/fDggbLKsJS

— Montana Freedom Caucus (@MTFreedomCaucus) April 19, 2023

Fox News reported:

Zephyr’s comments came as the state House voted on and debated amendments to the measure that were requested by Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican who has indicated he supports the bill and is likely to sign it into law.

The bill would ban certain medical procedures for transgender minors, but Gianforte offered suggested changes Monday to make it clear that public funds could not be used to pay for surgery or hormone treatments for youth diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

“I share your profound commitment to protect Montana children from invasive medical treatments that can permanently alter their healthy, developing bodies,” he wrote in a letter to the legislative leaders offering his amendments.

Following Zephyr’s remarks from the House floor, the Montana Freedom Caucus, which comprises more than 20 state lawmakers, issued a statement calling for Zephyr to be censured over the “hateful rhetoric.”

KTVH had further information about the legislation:

SB 99, sponsored by Sen. John Fuller, R-Kalispell, would ban hormone treatments or surgeries for someone under 18 seeking to medically transition to a gender identity different from the sex they were assigned at birth. It would threaten health care providers who do provide those treatments with a yearlong suspension of their authority to practice, along with potential legal liability.

In a letter Monday, Gianforte called for revising SB 99’s definitions of “male” and “female,” changing the language to include minors with conditions like a “disorder of sex development,” and clarifying prohibitions on public resources for medical or social transitioning.

In the letter, Gianforte said, “Montanans who struggle with their gender identity deserve love, compassion, and respect.” However, he strongly criticized the idea of performing gender transition procedures on minors, calling them “permanent, invasive, life-altering medical and surgical procedures.”

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