On Tuesday, a number of Republicans voted against a bill that would have prohibited Montana Representative Zooey Zephyr, the state’s first transgender lawmaker, from using the women’s facility at the state capitol.
Republican state representative Jerry Schillinger submitted the proposed bill, which would have mandated that state lawmakers use the restrooms of the sex to which they were born.
Ahead of Montana’s upcoming legislative session in January, Schillinger stated during a meeting of the Montana Joint House and Senate regulations Committees on Tuesday that the legislation says things that probably shouldn’t be said and puts things into regulations that probably shouldn’t be placed into rules.
With the Senate committee voting 11-7 in favor and the House committee voting 10-12 against, the plan, which required the backing of a majority of both committees to advance, was unsuccessful.
In a social media message, Zephyr, who garnered worldwide notice and rose to national prominence among the LGBTQ community after being censured by the Montana legislature last year, thanked her colleagues who voted against the legislation.
Zephyr said on X, “I’m glad that this proposed ban didn’t pass and I’m thankful to my colleagues, especially my Republican colleagues, who saw this as a diversion from the work we were elected to do.” I’m eager to work for the people of Montana and am prepared to represent my constituency.
Four Republicans, including state representative David Bedey, voted against the bill, claiming that the legislature’s rules are designed to enable the body to effectively represent Montanans.
Before Tuesday’s vote, Bedey stated that this specific action would not help us perform our business effectively and would instead make people famous in the national news. He went on to say that the female lawmakers he spoke with during the previous legislative session had no trouble using the restroom.
Republican state representative Brad Barker concurred with Bedey, stating that the matter was becoming a diversion.
Jedediah Hinkle, a Republican state representative, backed the bill, stating that although the legislature currently only has one transgender lawmaker, more could be added in the future.
Since this issue is being addressed nationally, I believe it is time for this body to address it now, he stated. Right now, we must establish the precedent that women have their places, that they should feel at ease in those places, and that we should defend their rights.
Hinkle seemed to be referring to a recent controversy in the U.S. Capitol after Sarah McBride, who will be elected as the nation’s first openly transgender member of Congress next month, was elected in Delaware.
Last month, South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace presented a resolution that would forbid members of Congress and House staff from using facilities that are only appropriate for their biological sex. Mace told reporters in statements that misgendered McBride that the proposal was in fact meant to target the incoming congresswoman. He further said that she is 100% likely to obstruct any man who wishes to use a women’s restroom, our locker rooms, or our changing rooms.
“I will be there fighting you every step of the way,” she continued.
Although his expression of support does not formally alter the rules package for the upcoming congressional session, which begins in January, House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that he supports Mace’s initiative.
In reaction to Mace’s suggestion and Johnson’s rebuttal, McBride said in a statement on X on November 20: “I’m not here to fight about bathrooms.” I’m here to advocate for Delawareans and reduce the expenses that families must bear. Even if I disagree with Speaker Johnson’s rules, I will abide by them just like every other member.
“This attempt to divert attention from the actual problems confronting this nation hasn’t distracted me over the past few days, as I’ve stayed diligently working to represent the best state in the union come January,” she continued.
In the days that followed McBride’s declaration, Zephyr urged her to give up.
In an interview with Scripps News at the time, Zephyr stated that “the hate from the right does not stop when we see policies that target trans women who are just trying to live their lives in the restroom or trying to play sports with their friends. We must fight back against these attempts to target our community because that hate is always on display.
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