Montana Legislators Vote Against Prohibiting Transgender Individuals from Using Gender-Specific Bathrooms in the Capitol
According to the proposal, Democratic state Rep. Zooey Zephyr, who identifies as transgender, would have been barred from utilizing the women’s restroom.
On December 3, Montana lawmakers turned down a proposal that aimed to designate two legislative restrooms—one strictly for males and another exclusively for females—based on users’ chromosomes, reproductive systems, and endocrine systems.
Four Republican members joined Democrats in rejecting the proposal during a vote in the Montana Legislature’s Joint Rules Committee.
An individual who would otherwise fit this description, barring a biological or genetic condition, would also be deemed female, as per the proposal.
Male restrooms would be reserved exclusively for “a member of the human species who, under normal circumstances, has XY chromosomes and produces or is capable of producing small, mobile gametes, or sperm, throughout his life cycle, along with a reproductive and endocrine system oriented towards the generation of those gametes,” according to the proposal. Any individual who would qualify as male, except for due to a biological or genetic condition, would also be classified as male.
Under this measure, Democratic state Rep. Zooey Zephyr, who identifies as transgender, would have been prohibited from accessing the women’s restroom. Zephyr was not specifically mentioned in the proposed measure.
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“I’m pleased to see that this proposed ban was not passed and I am thankful for my colleagues—especially my Republican colleagues—who recognized this as a distraction from the essential work we were chosen to do,” Zephyr stated. “I’m eager to represent my constituents and look forward to engaging on behalf of Montana.
Zephyr was re-elected to a second term in the state House just over a month ago.
The lawmaker opted not to apologize for those comments and faced censure before being removed shortly thereafter, following a protest in the House gallery from her supporters.
Though Zephyr’s censure officially concluded when the 2023 legislative session wrapped up, as the Legislature operates on a biennial schedule and did not meet in 2024, she is expected to return to the House floor in 2025.
A vote on that legislation has yet to take place.
“It is crucial to note that each Member office comes equipped with its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol,” Johnson added. “Women deserve spaces exclusively for women.”
The Epoch Times reached out to Schillinger’s office for comments but received no response prior to publication.
Contributions to this report were made by the Associated Press and Reuters.
