Trans lawmaker punished by Montana GOP calls colleagues ‘performative’

in a interview with MSNBC’s Joy Ann Reid just hours after being censured by Republican lawmakers, Montana State Representative Zooey Zephyr criticized her fellow Republicans for their performative actions.

Zephyr told Reid on Wednesday night that the actions of Republicans to vote for legislation that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors does not align with what they have expressed behind the scenes.

“Behind the scenes, Republicans are saying they wish their party’s far-right contingent wouldn’t push this, but they’re scared of getting elected in the primary. They are afraid of the direction their group is going.” Zephyr saying. “But ultimately, those words ring hollow when the votes come up on the board and vote to disenfranchise queer people in this state.”

Reid continued: “So what you’re saying is behind the scenes it looks like they don’t want to do it, but they do it performatively?”

Zephyr replied, “Exactly.”

The interview aired a few hours after the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. voted to censure Zephyr, who is one of Montana’s first transgender legislators, after she spoke out against legislation banning gender-affirming care for minors last week. The invoice advanced in the legislature last week and is awaiting consideration from Gov. Greg Gianforte (R), who previously expressed his support for the policy.

“If you vote yes on this bill and yes on these amendments, I hope the next time there is an invocation, when you bow your head in prayer, you will see blood on your hands,” Zephyr saying at a hearing last week.

His comments drew criticism from Republican lawmakers, including House Majority Leader Sue Vinton, who described his actions as “inappropriate, disrespectful and unnecessary.” Zephyr was banned from speaking in the room last week following his comments, and in a press release, 21 Republicans called for Zephyr to be censored, and deliberately misinterpreted.

Through this party-line vote, Zephyr is barred from speaking on the House floor for the remainder of the legislative session, which adjourns next week.

“My constituents are upset. They want their democratically elected representative to speak on their behalf,” Zephyr said in the interview with MSNBC.