![]() Zephyr,” said House Speaker Matt Regier (R), who had refused to recognize her request to speak since the April 18 session. “Freedom in this body involves obedience to all the rules of this body, including the rules of decorum,” House Majority Leader Sue Vinton (R) said. ![]() State police cleared the gallery and arrested seven people after protesters started chanting “Let her speak!” Republicans accused Zephyr of encouraging the protest. Republicans responded by refusing to let her speak, leading to a protest in the House gallery Monday. Zephyr told her colleagues during an April 18 session they would have “blood on your hands” if they blocked transgender youth from receiving transitional care, saying she has friends who committed suicide over such restrictions. The vote to block her from the House floor was 68 to 32, along party lines. Zephyr will be allowed to vote remotely and participate in committee meetings for the rest of the session, which ends in May. Republicans said her remarks violated “decorum” rules. The extraordinary move - it has been nearly half a century since Montana lawmakers took such a disciplinary action, The Associated Press reports - stems from comments Zephyr, a transgender lawmaker representing Missoula, made about a bill to ban gender-affirming hormone treatment or surgery for minors. Zooey Zephyr (D) from the House floor for the rest of the legislative session. ![]() The Republican-led Montana House voted Wednesday to bar Rep. ![]()
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