Montana Lawmakers Deny Bathroom Ban for Transgender Representative

Montana lawmakers, including several Republicans, voted against a measure that would have banned the state's first transgender legislator, Rep. Zooey Zephyr, from using women's restrooms at the State Capitol. The proposal, introduced by Republican Rep. Jerry Schillinger, aimed to require legislators to use restrooms corresponding to their birth-assigned sex. The motion was seen by some, including Republican Rep. David Bedey, as a distraction from legislative work. This decision comes amid broader national debates on transgender rights and bathroom access.