How Zooey Zephyr, Montana's 1st trans legislator, became a national celebrity

It’s hard to walk more than 50 feet in downtown Missoula, Montana, with Rep. Zooey Zephyr without her being stopped by someone who wants to meet her, thank her or take a photo with her.

In April, Zephyr, the first transgender woman elected to her state’s Legislature, shot to national fame after Montana Republicans blocked her from speaking on the House floor because of comments she made about a bill that would prohibit transition-related medical care for trans youth.

“I hope the next time there’s an invocation, when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands,” Zephyr, a Democrat, said while debating the bill on April 18.

For three days, Republicans didn’t allow Zephyr to speak on any bills.

Protesters gathered at the Capitol on the third day, April 24, and chanted “Let her speak!” from the gallery while Zephyr defiantly raised her microphone in the air. Two days later, the House voted 68-32, along party lines, to censure the first-term lawmaker for the remainder of the session, officially barring her from participating in debates on the House floor.