Zooey is the first openly trans woman to be elected in the state legislature. The portrait of Zephyr was taken at the Marriott Hotel in Washington D.C.
Keren Carrión/NPRThe halls of the Montana state Capitol are well-known to Zooey. She testified against a ban on trans women and girls from participating in women's sports when she was in the legislature.
She said in the committee that the image ofquote trans women ruining the integrity of women's sports paints a false picture. The claim that we have a competitive advantage is incorrect. It doesn't understand why trans people transition in the first place.
The first openly trans woman to be elected to the Montana legislature was 34 years old. When many of their colleagues will likely propose anti-LGBTQ bills again, Rep.-elect Zephyr from Missoula will file into state capitols in January.
I bet I could change my mind after watching bills pass through the legislature. Representation is needed in that room. "I'm going to try to get in there,'" he said in an interview while at legislator orientation.
She will be joined by the first trans nonbinary legislator in Montana.
While that's a win for Democrats, the same Montana GOP majority that passed the trans sports ban because of what they have said is fairness in competition, and another law that restricts how trans-Montanans can update their gender on birth certificates, gained even more seats in November ahead of the
The new law that restricted the process for amending birth certificates was challenged in court. The state health department stopped all birth certificate amendments because they said there was a difference between biological sex and gender. The rule needs to be reversed while the lawsuit is going on.
Christine was a voter in Deer Lodge, Mont., and she was focused on this issue on election day.
According to the governor, you can't have your gender changed on your birth certificate if you are who you think you are.
Lawmakers have begun drafting legislation to bring next session, and a few Republicans have already requested proposals that would restrict health care for trans teens, prohibit children from attending drag shows, and amend the state constitution to define gender.
She is optimistic that she will be able to push back against the legislation she says is harmful to the state's LGBTQ community.
Representation isn't a guarantee that harmful legislation won't go through, but it is the best defense against bills that hurt vulnerable communities.
According to the Victory Fund, a non-partisan political action committee that supports LGBTQ candidates running for office, there were 196 candidates who were elected to office for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transsexual community in the year of her election.
Legislation to increase access to affordable housing is one of the top issues she wants to prioritize. She says she will be able to find shared goals with Republicans even if she disagrees with them.
It is the day in, day out, talking with people. The humanizing effect of working with someone is that they will get to know that I have a nuanced life and that I have genuine beliefs.
Moderate Republicans in Montana voted against the anti-trans rights bills. It also gives hope to the person.
When she's sworn into Montana's legislature on January 2, she'll begin work on legislation and bridge-building.
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