Montana’s Republican state legislature is completely out of control

| 12:01 pm EDT April 28, 2023
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Amid the Republican-controlled Montana House, she stood out like some angelic warrior. The Republicans in Montana had been debating a bill that would ban gender-affirming care. Zooey Zephyr, the state’s first transgender lawmaker, wasn’t having it.

Zephyr, in a passionate repudiation of this loathsome bill, scolded Montana Republicans. She was clear-eyed, concise, and courageous. And she told these smug and hating politicians that if the legislation passed, they’d have “blood on their hands.”

Blood on their hands. Blood on their hands. Blood on their hands. She’s right. What Montana Republicans wanted to do would indeed have long-term consequences that could lead to disaster.

Zephyr knew the risks of standing up and pouring out her soul. She knew they wouldn’t like it. Indeed, she understood ALL that, but you see, this person has something that all the Montana Republicans put together could never achieve.

That would be courage. And honor. And class. So she said her piece. And now, as a result, in a shockingly retaliatory move, the vengeful Republicans banned Zephyr from the House floor for the rest of 2023.

These Republicans learned nothing from the Tennessee three. This is the new Republican way, you see. Taking their fascism to new heights, it appears Republicans are all in for banning whoever DARES to speak out against them.

Zephyr has just cemented her place in history. She’s not apologetic. Why should she be? Like all great activists who came before her, Zephyr got in some “good trouble.” And you know what? She stood firm. She didn’t waver. I suspect it isn’t in her to waver — on anything as important as this.

And we owe her a debt of gratitude. So say her name — shout it into the ether. It sparkles. It’s the name of someone who didn’t back down. This is the type of person we need more of. Zephyr will be OK. She will be fine because she knows who she is and what people elected her to do. The GOP however, will not be fine. The GOP is less fine every day—and that will be apparent in the 2024 election.