Montana bans medical care for transgender children

Rep. Zoe Zephyr watches from the House floor during a meeting at the Montana State Capitol. Credit: AP Photo/Tommy Martino

Montana's Republican governor signed legislation to ban gender-affirming care for transgender children over the objections of his non-binary son.

This comes just days after a transgender lawmaker who protested against the bill, was removed from the state legislature, causing a national furor.

Zoe Zephyr, a Democrat, told her conservative colleagues that supporting the bill «tantamount to torture» and would leave «blood on your hands.»

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives took the extraordinary step of excluding Ms. Zephyr from the House before the end of the legislative session, which ends May 5.

Joe Biden's press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, called the move «a negation of democratic values.» #34;.

By signing the bill on Friday, Gov. Greg Gianforte banned hormone treatments and surgeries for transgender people under the age of 18.

The bill was also opposed by the governor's son, David Gianforte, who identifies as non-binary and called on his father to veto the bill, which he called «an immoral, unfair and blatant violation of human rights.»

The governor said he » is committed to protecting Montana's children from invasive medical treatments that could forever change their healthy, developing bodies.»

The legislation makes Montana the latest U.S. state to impose restrictions this year as part of an escalating U.S. culture war against transgender rights .

Republican politicians are pushing for a campaign to limit special medical procedures prescribed for transgender youth, including hormonal treatments. and puberty blockers. Dozens of similar bills have been introduced in legislatures across the US.

Prohibition advocates say the long-term effects of treatment are not fully understood and that children and teens are too young to make these life-changing choices, even under the supervision of parents.

Ms. Zephyr, Missoula's first representative, warned that denying gender-verifying childcare would lead to more suicides.

Republican House leaders initially responded to Ms. Zephyr's statements by turning off her microphone.

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Annoyance levels rose as Ms. Zephyr led a protest from her supporters chanting «Let her speak!» from the visitor's gallery, ending with the arrest of seven demonstrators.

Party lines voted 68-32 to formally expel Ms. Zephyr, one of the few transgender lawmakers in the legislature, from the House floor, gallery and A reception followed.

This prompted LGBTQ activists to hold a 24-hour protest in Missoula on Friday and Saturday.

The bill signed on Friday is on the list of bills related to gender identity. measures recently proposed by Montana lawmakers.

Others define gender in binary terms and prohibit public school students from changing pronouns without parental permission.