Montana Rep. Zephyr’s Speech Flips 13 GOP Votes on Anti-Trans Bills
Montana House Bill 675, which would have allowed parents to sue drag performers for up to $5,000 for alleged harm to their children, failed to pass after receiving 44 out of the needed 56 votes. The bill defined drag performances as inherently sexual, regardless of their actual content. Thirteen Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the bill, citing existing indecency laws and the bill’s perceived waste of legislative time. The bill’s failure followed a speech by State Representative Zooey Zephyr highlighting the historical context of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and the artistic nature of drag.
John Q. Hosedrinker