Some Republicans joined Democrats in rejecting the measure, which would have restricted bathroom access. Rep. Zooey Zephyr, Montana's first openly transgender legislator, won a second term last month.

Trans lawmaker who was censured by the state legislator before her reelection says effort to bar her from using women’s bathroom is a ‘distraction from the work we were elected to do’

Montana lawmakers on Tuesday rejected attempts to ban a transgender legislator from using the women's restroom at the state Capitol, with some Republicans joining Democrats in opposing the measure. Democratic Representative Zooey Zephyr, a transgender ...

The proposal would have effectively barred transgender women from using the State Capitol restroom for female lawmakers. Some Republicans joined Democrats in voting it down.

Zephyr, Montana’s first openly trans lawmaker, later called the measure a “distraction from the work we were elected to do” and thanked colleagues who voted against it.

Zephyr was not directly named in Rep. Jerry Schillinger's measure, but she is the only member of the legislature to whom the rule would apply.

The rules committee debated - and rejected - a measure to ban trans people from using the restrooms next to the chambers.

Though her name was not mentioned in the proposal or discussion, several lawmakers made clear the proposal was primarily targeted at Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, who is Montana’s first openly transgender female lawmaker.

A measure that would have prohibited the transgender lawmaker from using the women's restroom failed in committee Tuesday, with even several Republicans voting against it.

A measure to bar Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr, the state’s first transgender legislator, from using the women’s restroom at the state capitol failed to pass the House rules committee Tuesday, with several Republicans voting against it.