Rep. Zooey Zephyr (D), Montana’s first openly transgender legislator, thrust a dead microphone above her head in the state House on Monday as officers clad in riot gear attempted to clear the gallery of protesters, some of whom chanted “Let her speak!” and waved pride flags as they were escorted from the chamber.
Zephyr, 34, had just been silenced by her Republican colleagues for the third day in a row as she tried to speak on a bill that would affect trans minors. After House Speaker Matt Regier (R) refused to acknowledge Zephyr, her supporters erupted, forcing legislative leaders to pause the session until decorum could be restored.
At least seven people were arrested as crowd control officers and members of the Montana Highway Patrol and the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office were mobilized to clear the gallery, according to the Helena Independent Record. Zephyr, a first-term Democrat from Missoula, left the chamber shortly after.