Montana Republicans are planning a vote Wednesday to censure or expel a transgender Democratic lawmaker who has been silenced in the state House after criticizing GOP colleagues who support a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender children.
, which has been dubbed the Youth Health Protection Act by Republican sponsors, would ban several critical types of gender-affirming care for transgender children, including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgery to treat minors diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Treatments such as puberty blockers would still be available for cisgender children.
The bill would also prohibit the state’s Medicaid program from paying for any surgical procedures or medication needed for transgender children. The state health department said in January that Montana had spent nearly $1.4 million since 2015 to cover medical treatment for gender dysphoria for children, averaging about $173,000 a year, according toIf it is signed into law by Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte , S.B. 99 would go into effect Oct. 1.
“If you vote yes on this bill, I hope the next time there’s an invocation, when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands,” Zephyr said. Montana state Rep. Zooey Zephyr said “this body should be ashamed” April 18 while speaking against a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors.
On the same day the bill’s proposed amendments were passed in the state Senate, the Montana Freedom Caucus, a bloc of 21 right-wing state legislators, said Zephyr’s comments amounted to “hateful rhetoric” and demanded her censure in
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