Montana Republicans Propose Bill Preventing Males from Woman Spaces
"Privacy and Safety"
Thirty-five Montana state Republicans introduced a bill on Tuesday that would prevent biological males from entering female restrooms, changing rooms and sleeping quarters.
House Bill (HB) 121 says that women should be “afforded privacy and safety from acts of abuse, harassment, sexual assault, and violence committed by men.”
The proposed law defines a male as someone with XY chromosomes and a female as someone with XX chromosomes.
“An individual may not enter a restroom, changing room, or sleeping quarters that is designated for females or males unless the individual is a member of the designated sex,” the bill proposal says.
In addition, this bill filing allows individuals using a restroom or changing room designated for their sex to file a civil lawsuit if they encounter someone of the opposite sex in that space.
The individual could sue for “nominal damages” and “other appropriate relief.”
Under this proposed law, the person using the wrong bathroom and anyone who did not prevent the person from entering the wrong area can face lawsuits.
The bill proposal says legal action must be filed within two years of the incident.
In Montana, the state has two Democratic state representatives representing Missoula who are transgender: SJ Howell and Zooey Zephyr. Howell identifies as “non-binary,” and Zephyr was born a biological male who now identifies as a woman.
During the last legislative session in 2023, Montana passed Senate Bill 99, which protected minors from life-altering procedures such as puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.
Zephyr, when discussing this bill said that lawmakers who supported it would “have blood on their hands,” according to The Montana Free Press.
After these comments and being accused of inciting protestors in the state chamber, the Montana House censured Zephyr, NBC News reported.
The Montana Supreme Court upheld a temporary block to Senate Bill 99 in Dec. 2024.
The hearing for HB 121 will take place on Friday, Jan. 10, at 8 a.m.
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Zachery Schmidt is the founder of The Montana Chronicles. If you have any tips, please send them to montanachronicles@proton.me.