Montana Legislature Defeats Bathroom Ban for Transgender Lawmaker

Montana lawmakers narrowly voted against a proposed rule to ban transgender women from using women's restrooms in the state capitol, with the Joint Rules Committee's House members voting 10-12 against it. The proposal, backed by Republican Jerry Schillinger, was part of ongoing debates over transgender rights, particularly affecting Rep. Zooey Zephyr, Montana's first transgender woman legislator. The decision reflects a split among Republicans, with some viewing the ban as protective and others as a distraction, while Democrats unanimously opposed it.