by Russ Lawrence, Hamilton
Earlier in this miserable legislative session, HB 361 was passed and now awaits Gov. Gianforte’s signature. The bill specifies that misgendering and otherwise harassing transgender students is not a punishable offense. The immediate, predictable result is that transgender individuals will be bullied and harassed and, to no one’s surprise, the bullying and harassment began on the floor of the Montana House of Representatives.
When Rep. Zooey Zephyr spoke her truth (using a phrase that has been spoken by Republicans without consequence), some members claimed to be offended and called it a breach of decorum. When she refused to apologize for speaking her truth, the majority Republican bullies set to work on her.
Bullies always “punch down,” attacking only those they believe to be weak, and this legislative session has been full of attacks on LGBTQ+ Montanans. In Rep. Zephyr, though, they chose the wrong “victim.” She landed a punch and, as bullies do, the Republicans (now with a black eye) went running to the principal demanding that she be expelled.
So there you have it: bullying and harassment is a protected activity, but when the bullied individuals and their friends fight back, they must be punished.
That is the world in which the Republicans of the Montana legislature want us to live, to be cowed by their belligerence, but I reject that world. The story rarely ends with the bullies winning, but it will take collective action to see this story through to a just ending, and I urge all Montanans to reject those who promote such belligerence and hostility.