Montana judge denies transgender lawmaker's request to return to House floor

A judge has denied Montana state legislator Zooey Zephyr’s motion to have her legislative privileges and duties reinstated after being censured by House Republicans. Zephyr is the first openly transgender lawmaker in the state and had urged House Republicans to vote against a gender-affirming care ban for transgender youth. Some legislators argued Zephyr had broken House rules of decorum when she said legislators would have "blood on your hands" if they passed the transgender youth care ban. Zephyr's attorneys are unlikely to appeal the ruling since the legislative session is coming to a close.