Gov. Greg Gianforte (R-MT) has signed legislation banning gender-transition procedures for minors in the state, making Montana the latest state to do so.
The legislation, Senate Bill 99, had been approved in the Senate by a vote of 31-17 and was signed by the governor on Friday. Now signed into law, the legislation goes into effect on Oct. 1.
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The signing of the legislation comes after state Rep. Zooey Zephyr (D-MT), who is transgender, had been censured by the state House on Wednesday, barring the lawmaker for the remainder of the legislative session. Zephyr’s censure allows the lawmaker to vote remotely on legislation for the rest of the session; however, Zephyr is not allowed to speak on the floor while being censured.
The censure was voted on by the Montana House after Zephyr told Republican lawmakers on April 18 they would be subjecting transgender youth to torture by banning treatment. In response, House Republican Majority Leader Sue Vinton said the House Republicans would not “be shamed by anyone in this chamber. We are better than that.”
“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 replied.
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On Monday, nearly 100 protesters chanted “Let her speak” from the statehouse gallery in support of Zephyr after the lawmaker was not recognized to speak for a third consecutive day. Police arrested seven protesters for disrupting proceedings at the statehouse, who were then charged with criminal trespassing and were moved to the Lewis and Clark County jail.
Montana is the latest state to issue a ban on gender-transition procedures, with other states, including Indiana, Tennessee, and West Virginia, all doing the same within the last two months.
