What's happened
A proposed bill in Montana that would have restricted bathroom access for transgender lawmakers was defeated in a legislative committee vote. The measure, introduced by Republican Rep. Jerry Schillinger, faced opposition from both Democrats and some Republicans, including Rep. David Bedey, who called it a distraction from legislative work.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the proposed bathroom bill was met with significant opposition, with Rep. David Bedey stating, 'This particular action will have the effect of making people famous in the national news and will not contribute to the effective conduct of our business.' The New York Times noted that all Democrats opposed the measure, and several Republicans questioned its necessity, indicating a bipartisan recognition of the bill as a distraction. AP News highlighted the broader context of ongoing legislative efforts across the U.S. to limit transgender rights, suggesting that Montana's decision could resonate in future legislative sessions.
How we got here
The bill aimed to enforce bathroom usage based on birth gender, reflecting ongoing national debates over transgender rights. This follows the re-election of Zooey Zephyr, Montana's first transgender lawmaker, who previously faced censure for her outspoken opposition to anti-trans legislation.
Common question
More on these topics
-
Montana is a state in the Northwestern United States. Montana has several nicknames, although none are official, including "Big Sky Country" and "The Treasure State", and slogans that include "Land of the Shining Mountains" and more recently "The Last Bes
-
Sarah McBride is an American LGBTQ rights activist and Democratic candidate for a seat in the Delaware Senate. She is currently the National Press Secretary of the Human Rights Campaign.
-
Zooey Zephyr is an American politician and university administrator who represents the 100th district in the Montana House of Representatives.