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Zephyr has been a vocal opponent of anti-LGBT+ bills such as HB 359,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2023/02/transgender-rep-zooey-zephyr-condemns-montana-drag-ban-in-a-passionate-speech/|title=Transgender Rep. Zooey Zephyr condemns Montana drag ban in a passionate speech|website=LGBTQ Nation|first=Greg|last=Owen|accessdate=19 April 2023}}</ref> SB 458,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/in-montana-trans-people-could-soon-be-defined-out-of-existence|title=Montana Could Soon Define Trans People 'Out of Existence'|journal=Daily Beast|first=Tim|last=Teeman|date=2 April 2023|accessdate=19 April 2023}}</ref> and SB 99.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ktvh.com/news/68th-session/legislature-endorses-gianforte-amendment-to-bill-banning-gender-affirming-care-to-minors|title=Legislature endorses Gianforte amendment to bill banning gender-affirming care to minors|website=KTHV|first=Jonathon|last=Ambarian|date=18 April 2023|accessdate=19 April 2023}}</ref>
Zephyr has been a vocal opponent of anti-LGBT+ bills such as HB 359,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2023/02/transgender-rep-zooey-zephyr-condemns-montana-drag-ban-in-a-passionate-speech/|title=Transgender Rep. Zooey Zephyr condemns Montana drag ban in a passionate speech|website=LGBTQ Nation|first=Greg|last=Owen|accessdate=19 April 2023}}</ref> SB 458,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/in-montana-trans-people-could-soon-be-defined-out-of-existence|title=Montana Could Soon Define Trans People 'Out of Existence'|journal=Daily Beast|first=Tim|last=Teeman|date=2 April 2023|accessdate=19 April 2023}}</ref> and SB 99.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ktvh.com/news/68th-session/legislature-endorses-gianforte-amendment-to-bill-banning-gender-affirming-care-to-minors|title=Legislature endorses Gianforte amendment to bill banning gender-affirming care to minors|website=KTHV|first=Jonathon|last=Ambarian|date=18 April 2023|accessdate=19 April 2023}}</ref>


In April 2023, a group of Republicans in the Montana state legislature called for Zephyr's censure, after in opposition to a bill to ban gender affirming healthcare for transgender minors, she said "If you are forcing a trans child to go through puberty when they are trans, that is tantamount to torture. This body should be ashamed" and said the legislature would have blood on its hands. The group of Republican legislators issued a statement misgendering Zephyr by using male pronouns, and describing her words as being "exactly why tragedies such as the [[2023 Nashville school shooting|Covenant Christian School shooting]] in Nashville occurred".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3958932-montana-gop-censure-zooey-zephyr/ |title= Montana GOP caucus calls for censure of legislature’s only openly transgender member |work=The Hill}}</ref>
In April 2023, a group of Republicans in the Montana state legislature called for Zephyr's censure, after in opposition to a bill to ban gender affirming healthcare for transgender minors, she said "If you are forcing a trans child to go through puberty when they are trans, that is tantamount to torture. This body should be ashamed" and said the legislature would have blood on its hands. The group of Republican legislators issued a statement misgendering Zephyr by using male pronouns, and describing her words as being "exactly why tragedies such as the [[2023 Nashville school shooting|Covenant Christian School shooting]] in Nashville occurred".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3958932-montana-gop-censure-zooey-zephyr/ |title= Montana GOP caucus calls for censure of legislature’s only openly transgender member |work=The Hill}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/04/19/montana-zooey-zephyr/ |work=PinkNews |date=April 19, 2023}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==

Revision as of 20:17, 19 April 2023

Zooey Zephyr
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 100th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2, 2023
Preceded byAndrea Olsen
Personal details
Born1989 (age 34–35)
Billings, Montana
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceMissoula, Montana
Alma mater
OccupationUniversity administrator
Websitewww.zooeyzephyr.com

Zooey Zephyr is an American politician and university administrator, who represents the 100th district in the Montana House of Representatives for the Democratic Party. She was elected in the 2022 election, making her the first openly transgender person to be elected to the state legislature in Montana.[1][2][3] She was sworn in as a Representative on January 2, 2023.[4]

Early life and education

Zephyr was born in Billings, Montana. She graduated from the University of Washington and subsequently returned to her home state to pursue graduate studies at the University of Montana (UM). She joined the university's Biology department and then the Office of the Provost.[5]

Career

At the time of her campaign, Zephyr was the UM Office of the Provost's Program Manager overseeing the university's curricula. She first became involved in activism in 2020. She testified before the Montana legislature in defense of LGBT+ rights and met with Republican Governor Greg Gianforte, but felt her words were not heard. It was on 1 March 2021 that Zephyr decided to stand for state representative in the 2022 mid-term elections upon watching SB 215 and SB 280 pass through the state senate with one-vote margins. She felt she needed to "get into the room where the laws are being written".[6]

House District 100 (Missoula), described as "one of the bluest districts in the state", was previously held by Andrea Olsen, who stood down to run for state senator. Zephyr defeated Dave Severson in the Democratic primary on 7 June 2022. Upon defeating Republican opponent Sean Patrick McCoy that November, Zephyr became the first trans woman to be elected to the Montana legislature alongside SJ Howell, the first non-binary politician to do so.[7] She assumed office in January 2023.

Zephyr has been a vocal opponent of anti-LGBT+ bills such as HB 359,[8] SB 458,[9] and SB 99.[10]

In April 2023, a group of Republicans in the Montana state legislature called for Zephyr's censure, after in opposition to a bill to ban gender affirming healthcare for transgender minors, she said "If you are forcing a trans child to go through puberty when they are trans, that is tantamount to torture. This body should be ashamed" and said the legislature would have blood on its hands. The group of Republican legislators issued a statement misgendering Zephyr by using male pronouns, and describing her words as being "exactly why tragedies such as the Covenant Christian School shooting in Nashville occurred".[11][12]

Personal life

Zephyr is bisexual. She is in a relationship with Erin Reed.[13]

References

  1. ^ Astor, Maggie; Lau, Stephanie (November 9, 2022). "A diverse field of candidates make history in the midterms". New York Times. Retrieved November 10, 2022. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  2. ^ Branigin, Anne (July 27, 2022). "A record number of trans and nonbinary people are running for office". Washington Post. Retrieved November 10, 2022. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  3. ^ "Zooey Zephyr". Victory Fund. Victory Fund. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  4. ^ Girten (January 2, 2022). "'Organized and ready to do business': Montana's 68th Legislature begins with supermajority poised". Daily Montanan. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  5. ^ "Zooey Zephyr". Run for Something. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  6. ^ Rock, Audrey (30 August 2022). "Montana House Candidate Zooey Zephyr Stresses The Importance Of Her Vote: 'We Need Trans Representation'". Hollywood Life. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  7. ^ Hanson, Amy Beth (13 December 2022). "Transgender lawmaker hopes her presence brings understanding". ABC News. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  8. ^ Owen, Greg. "Transgender Rep. Zooey Zephyr condemns Montana drag ban in a passionate speech". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  9. ^ Teeman, Tim (2 April 2023). "Montana Could Soon Define Trans People 'Out of Existence'". Daily Beast. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  10. ^ Ambarian, Jonathon (18 April 2023). "Legislature endorses Gianforte amendment to bill banning gender-affirming care to minors". KTHV. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Montana GOP caucus calls for censure of legislature's only openly transgender member". The Hill.
  12. ^ PinkNews. April 19, 2023 https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/04/19/montana-zooey-zephyr/. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ^ Ragar, Shaylee (3 December 2022). "After record election year, some LGBTQ lawmakers face a new challenge: GOP majorities". NPR. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
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