The Montana House of Representatives recently rejected a bill that sought to allow parents to sue drag performers for allegedly harming children, in a rare defeat for the wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation sweeping conservative states. The measure, House Bill 675, was defeated in a 44-55 vote, with several Republicans breaking ranks to join Democrats in opposition. The bill aimed to define drag as inherently sexual and give parents the right to pursue legal action against performers and promoters for various forms of harm. Proponents argued it was meant to protect children, while opponents, including LGBTQ+ advocates and legal experts, saw it as an attempt to target queer culture under the guise of morality laws.
Rep. Zooey Zephyr, Montana’s first out transgender legislator, strongly opposed the bill, calling it an effort to silence and marginalize transgender people. She highlighted the bill’s true purpose of targeting the trans community and emphasized that drag performances are not inherently inappropriate. Her speech was supported by GOP Rep. Sherry Essman, who opposed the bill on the grounds of parental rights and criticized it as a distraction from real legislative priorities.
Zephyr’s speech and the subsequent vote marked another chapter in her high-profile tenure in the Montana House, as she continues to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights despite facing challenges and attempts to silence her in the past. The defeat of this bill is seen as a victory for LGBTQ+ rights in Montana and a testament to the importance of defending marginalized communities.
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