A short documentary goes behind the scenes with the state representative from Montana as she made international news fighting for trans medical care—and making a momentous decision in her own life.
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00I rise in opposition to these amendments in the governor's letter.
00:13He said Montanans who struggle with their gender identity deserve love, compassion,
00:18and respect.
00:19That's not what trans Montanans need from you.
00:22We need access to the medical care that saves our lives.
00:25Majority Leader Vinton.
00:27Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
00:28I speak on behalf of our caucus.
00:30We will not be shamed by anyone in this chamber.
00:34And the only thing I will say is if you vote yes on this bill and yes on these amendments,
00:40I hope the next time there's an invocation, when you bow your heads in prayer, you see
00:44the blood on your hands.
00:46I knew that we could not stop that bill.
00:49And so my original speech was a plea to trans youth.
00:52Please stay alive because we're going to win.
00:55We're winning in our communities because they care about us, because they love us.
00:59We're winning in our hearts because we know the joy that comes from being trans.
01:04GOP lawmakers in Montana have been working together to silence their colleague Zoe Zephyr,
01:10a Democratic state rep and the first out trans woman in Montana's state legislature.
01:14Now the Montana Freedom Caucus is calling for Zephyr's censure, claiming she tried to
01:20shame the legislative body.
01:22All the while they referred to the representative by the wrong pronoun.
01:25Republican leaders prevented Democrat Zoe Zephyr from speaking for a third day due
01:29to her remarks about gender affirming medical care.
01:32Let her speak!
01:33Let her speak!
01:34Let her speak!
01:35Let her speak!
01:36Let her speak!
01:37Let her speak!
01:38Let her speak!
01:39Let her speak!
01:40Let her speak!
01:41Let her speak!
01:42Guests will come to order.
01:43Sergeant of Arms, will you please clear the gallery?
01:44Members, will you please go to the side of the chambers?
01:47Let her speak!
01:48Let her speak!
01:49Let her speak!
01:50Let her speak!
01:52The Montana House of Representatives has voted to censure a transgender lawmaker.
01:58Zephyr will no longer be admitted to the House floor.
02:01The representative has the option to continue to participate remotely by voting only.
02:07Montana talks here with Aaron Flint.
02:11So Zoe Zephyr, after getting barred from the floor of the House, rather than working from
02:15a desk in the Capitol office, instead is now occupying this bench that is right next
02:21to the tiny little snack bar that's in the Montana Capitol.
02:32We are here and the message is clear.
02:36We are here.
02:40We are here and the message is clear.
02:44That's a pink song.
02:45C-31's right there.
02:46Do you hear my favorite joke I've been making, which is, like, finally transparency in government?
02:56Open doors.
02:57Yeah.
02:58Are there any asked key votes?
02:59Madam Chair, Representative Webber-Wax votes no.
03:00Hi.
03:01Hi.
03:02I'm Ryan Cooney.
03:03Ryan?
03:04I've been following you.
03:05Yeah.
03:06I love your work.
03:07This is my student, Sid Beresley.
03:08Hi.
03:09You've met Sid before.
03:10Yeah.
03:11Justify your actions.
03:12Hi.
03:13I'm Ryan Cooney.
03:14I'm Sid Beresley.
03:15Hi.
03:16You've met Sid before.
03:17Yeah.
03:18Testified against Senate Bill 99, and we've just been so inspired.
03:19Yes.
03:20Awesome.
03:21Nice to have you up here again.
03:22Can I have a quick picture with you?
03:23Absolutely.
03:24Yeah.
03:25One, two, three.
03:26Smile.
03:27Perfect.
03:28Perfect.
03:29Thanks, Sid.
03:30Thank you for being here, and thanks for testifying on 97.
03:31Thank you so much.
03:32For everything you do.
03:33We're fighting, okay?
03:34All right.
03:35Hey.
03:36Hey.
03:37Chin up, okay?
03:38Don't let him take that away.
03:39Okay?
03:40Okay.
03:41We're loved, and we're on the same side.
03:42Okay?
03:43I love you a lot.
03:44Okay?
03:45Check me for you.
03:46I have a bouquet.
03:47I'm going to borrow a rainbow bouquet, but I wasn't sure if it was appropriate to bring
03:48it in.
03:49It's from my grandnephew who's transitioning, and you've put a lot of effort into that.
03:51Yeah.
03:52Is it like ... Is it just like a bouquet?
03:53See, how wealthy do you think I am?
03:54Tonight, we turn our attention to Montana, where a historic event took place.
03:55The state's legislature has taken a controversial turn.
04:15Zoe Sapier is the first transgender representative in Montana.
04:19She is not allowed to speak in the US Parliament for the time being.
04:23In Montana, protesters interrupted Republican state legislators who tried to silence transgender
04:30Democrat Suey Shepard.
04:31Does any member wish to change his or her vote?
04:32If not, the clerk will call the vote.
04:33If not ...
04:34My new desk is the snack bar up here.
04:35There are some lovely folks sitting who have been parked on that bench that I was sitting
04:36on since the morning.
04:37And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
04:38And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
04:39And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
04:40And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
04:41And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
04:42And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
04:53And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
04:54And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
04:55And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
04:56And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
04:57And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
04:58And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
04:59And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:00And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:01And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:02And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:03And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:04And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:05And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:06And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:07And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:08And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:09And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:10And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:11And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:12And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:13And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:14And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:15And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:16And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:17And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:18And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:19And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:20And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:21And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:22And so I decided that I was going to sit on the bench that I was sitting on.
05:24Standing desk is all the rage.
05:25That's what I hear.
05:28Oh my gosh.
05:33Oh my God.
05:38Oh my God.
05:42Do I touch it?
05:52Do I touch it?
05:53Do I touch it or do I just leave it?
05:55Do I, does she get to be the first to touch it?
06:02Okay, let's just,
06:06oh my God.
06:09Oh, that's so gorgeous.
06:11Oh, that's so gorgeous.
06:14God, I can't wait.
06:17Okay.
06:18God, I can't wait.
06:20I talked with my girlfriend who's also trans every night
06:24and we share a love,
06:28the kind of love that I've hoped for my whole life.
06:32And then she just decided that she wants to be here
06:36for the end of the legislative session to support me.
06:39And this weekend is Missoula's Queer Prom.
06:42And so I'm gonna propose at prom
06:46and she has no idea.
06:50I can't even get here.
07:04Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around.
07:08Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around.
07:12Turn me around.
07:14Turn me around.
07:16Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around.
07:20Gonna keep on walking.
07:22Keep on talking.
07:24Gonna go to prom today.
07:27A Montgomery County transgender reporter
07:29and activist is safe tonight
07:30after someone tried to convince a police SWAT team
07:33to storm her home.
07:34Yeah, Erin Reid said someone also tried
07:36to SWAT her girlfriend's home Tuesday.
07:38Her girlfriend, by the way,
07:39is Montana State Representative Zoe Zephyr.
07:42Montgomery County police say someone emailed Tuesday morning
07:45saying Erin Reid was in danger.
07:48So from my understanding, someone tried to call SWAT
07:51and told the SWAT that my girlfriend Erin
07:55was being held hostage and that they needed, hi,
07:59and that they needed to send SWAT immediately.
08:01SWAT actually called her and said,
08:04hey, we got this note, are you okay?
08:06Is something going on?
08:07And she said, I'm fine.
08:08And so nothing happened, thankfully.
08:13There is a sense that this is a very direct escalation.
08:17And so we need to make sure she's safe
08:19and that nothing's gonna happen here
08:23because I don't want anyone to show up here.
08:25It reveals the lengths which they'll go to hurt, to silence.
08:31Like it could happen here and I'm busy being prepared.
08:35You're always a little bit scared,
08:37but you're never deterred.
08:42You've heard the motion to sign and die.
08:45All those in favor vote aye.
08:46And those opposed vote no.
08:48And the clerk will record the vote.
08:51Mr. Speaker, 89 representatives have voted aye,
08:54seven have voted no.
08:55Motion is passed and the 68th legislative session
08:58is adjourned.
08:59Hi.
09:01Thanks for everything.
09:02It's been an honor to serve with you.
09:04Thank you so much.
09:05I appreciate that.
09:07It's been a blast.
09:08Been a pleasure.
09:08Yeah.
09:09Have a good, what do we call it, intro?
09:11Whatever comes next, we'll have a good one, so.
09:14Right, great to meet you.
09:15Yeah, we'll go to a rest and get to know each other.
09:17Thank you, sir.
09:22Good to meet you.
09:24Good to meet you.
09:25Good to meet you.
09:29wrestling match at some point. We'll get there. I believe. I signed that for you.
09:35Did you? Yeah, I signed it right before y'all gave me the boot. Thanks for your
09:38service. Yeah. I guess you did. I did. Yeah, take care.
09:55Beauty and grace.
10:06She is my representative. She is my friend. She is my fucking hero. She has been denied the opportunity to do what we sent her to Helena to do, which is speak on behalf of every single person here.
10:29It's really good to be home.
10:50I love you, too. I love you, too. Despite the cruelty of that legislature, what I see and what I feel more than anything is a glint, a vision of what Montana could be.
11:15I left that building with my head held high.
11:19Oh, yeah.
11:33And our next person doesn't need an introduction.
11:52I love you. Paul, you yelled that to me in the rotunda as you were getting arrested.
11:57I love you so much.
12:09And here I am thinking about my partner, who I would love to invite out here.
12:22And I am so blessed to have Aaron by my side.
12:37If you could share a moment with me, Aaron, will you marry me?
13:07I love you.
13:32I love you.
14:01I love you.
14:31I love you.