The Montana House of Representatives, controlled by Republicans, recently voted to prohibit Democratic Representative, Zooey Zephyr, from participating in discussions and debates for the remainder of this
year’s legislative session. This move by Montana Republicans is not an isolated incident, but part of a larger pattern of Republican-controlled state legislatures limiting the speech of minority Democrats on policy debates, which they consider to be matters of life and death.

Just a few weeks ago, two Democratic lawmakers in Tennessee were expelled for protesting on the House floor, demanding action to address gun violence after a mass shooting at a Nashville school. In Montana, Regier, who has the support of a Republican supermajority, deemed Zephyr’s remarks opposing a bill that would prohibit gender affirming care for minors to have violated House rules. This restriction was imposed despite numerous studies that consistently show high rates of suicide among transgender teens.

When Zephyr attempted to speak on the House floor, the crowd chanted, “let her speak,” and seven protesters were then arrested. Zephyr defended herself by saying that Montana’s LGBTQ community has been the target of many bills. The legislature has consistently attacked this community, with bills targeting their art, books, history, and healthcare. Zephyr stated that these bills have caused harm and has even led some of her friends to take their lives.

Montana House Majority Leader Sue Vinton, the Republican who proposed the resolution, said that Zephyr had “encouraged the continuation of the disruption of this body, placing legislators, staff, and even our pages at the risk of harm.” However, Zephyr claimed that Republicans were using decorum as a “tool of oppression” and that the restrictions on her speech were a “nail in the coffin of democracy.”

Banning Zephyr from participating in debates will have significant consequences for her peers, as their voices will not be heard on bills discussed during this session. Although Republicans argue that Zephyr’s comments put legislators, staff, and pages at risk, her supporters believe that Republicans are using “decorum” as a pretext for silencing a marginalized voice.

With important topics such as housing bills and the state’s budget being discussed, the inability to hear voices from across the political spectrum is a huge threat to democracy. It is unclear how this decision will impact Montana and the rest of the country.

This is a concerning trend that needs to be addressed. It is important for democracy to have diverse voices from both sides of the political spectrum participating in policy debates. When the voices of minority Democrats are silenced, it creates an imbalance of power that is harmful to the democratic process. Montana’s decision to prohibit Zephyr from taking part in debates is just one example of the many attempts by Republican-controlled state legislatures to restrict the speech of minority Democrats on policy debates.

It is important to recognize that decorum must be maintained during policy debates. However, it is equally important to ensure that all voices are heard, especially those that might be in the minority. The inability to hear these voices can lead to one-sided policies that do not consider the needs of all constituents.

The decision to prohibit Zephyr from taking part in debates is a clear example of the ongoing attempt by Republican-controlled state legislatures to silence minority Democratic voices on policy debates. While Republicans argue that decorum must be maintained, Democrats see this as an attempt to silence them and their peers. With important topics such as housing bills and the state’s budget being discussed, the inability to hear voices from across the political spectrum is a significant threat to democracy. It is crucial that we address this issue and ensure that all voices are heard in policy debates.