E. Tammy Kim writes accompanying text for Kimberly Reed’s short documentary, “Seat 31: Zooey Zephyr,” which covers the journey of Zooey Zephyr, a trans woman and Democratic Montana State Representative, through the final weeks of the 2023 legislative session.
Highlights
- The text details bills introduced by Montana’s Republican-dominated legislature that center around restricting LGBTQ+ rights, including banning drag shows in public spaces, restricting the use of preferred pronouns, and criminalizing medical care for trans minors.
- Kim writes about Representative Zooey Zephyr’s passionate opposition to these bills, noting her arguments that they are discriminatory, as well as the national attention sparked by her resistance.
- Kim recounts the vote House members cast to bar Zephyr from the legislative chamber after a controversial statement about proponents of Senate Bill 99, which would prevent medical providers from treating trans minors with hormones or gender-affirming surgeries.
- The article describes the resilience and humor that Zephyr shows in the documentary, despite political setbacks, and highlights her ongoing faith in Montanans’ tolerance and hope for future political battles.
Type Media Center’s Note
This article by our fellow E. Tammy Kim reflects Type Media Center’s dedication to nurturing independent journalism that not only informs but strives for societal change.