Montana transgender state rep. censured for 'hate-filled testimony' while debating trans bill

A transgender state representative in Montana was censured after being accused of spouting "hate-filled testimony" while debating a bill which would ban sex change surgery for minors as well as hormones and puberty blockers. 

Democrat state Rep. Zooey Zephyr accused those who voted for the bill of having "blood on their hands."

"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 while debating SB99.

After Zephyr's remarks, Republican Speaker Matt Regier did not acknowledge Zephyr when she wanted to express her opinion on a bill that would put a binary definition of male and female into the state code, according to Fox News. 

"It is up to me to maintain decorum here on the House floor, to protect the dignity and integrity," Regier stated. "And any representative that I don't feel can do that will not be recognized."

Regier said he had multiple discussions with other lawmakers about the decision to censure Zephyr, citing that there had been similar issues with her in the past. 

GOP Montana state Rep. Caleb Hinkle, one of the individuals on board with the censure, said that "Hate-filled testimony has no place on the House floor."

Zephyr has promised to keep speaking out against SB99, which would ban "gender-affirming care" for minors. 

"I want to be clear: no amount of silencing tactics will deter me from standing up for the rights of the transgender community," Zephyr said in a statement earlier this week. "I will not apologize for speaking with clarity and precision about the harm these bills cause. Montana Republicans say they want an apology, but what they really want is silence as they take away the rights of trans and queer Montanans."

Charlotte Hazard is a reporter at Just the News. Follow her on Twitter.