Jamie Van Valkenburg quit her role as House Judiciary Committee clerk to join Montana Democratic state Rep. Zooey Zephyr’s staff.
“Courage is contagious,” Zephyr said in a tweet about Valkenburg's new role. “Whenever we stand up against undemocratic actions, we stand together with everyone through history who has fought for democracy. Jamie did phenomenal work as Judiciary Clerk this session, and I'm proud to have her join my team.”
TRANSGENDER MONTANA LAWMAKER ZOOEY ZEPHYR CENSURED BY STATE HOUSE
Montana House Republicans voted to censure Zephyr on Wednesday, a week after Zephyr called out Republican lawmakers for moving forward with Senate Bill 99, a bill banning hormone treatments or surgeries for minors.
“If you vote yes on this bill, and yes on these amendments, I hope the next time there’s an invocation, when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands,” Zephyr told Republicans.
Protests showing support for the first transgender lawmaker to be elected to the legislature broke out in the house Monday following Zephyr’s third day of being silenced.
Since the GOP barred Zephyr from the rest of the legislative session, lawmakers and leaders across the country have pledged their solidarity.
“When Republicans are confronted with arguments they don’t like, they silence their critics,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) tweeted on April 27. “They suspend democracy. All Zooey Zephyr did was point out that legislation marginalizing gay kids would lead to an increase in suicides. For that, she was expelled.”
Fifty-two LGBT legislators issued a letter of support for Zephyr and Oklahoma Democratic state Rep. Mauree Turner, the latter of whom identifies as nonbinary and was barred by Republicans after a protest broke out over anti-trans legislation.
Legislators from 19 states signed a letter addressed to Montana and Oklahoma House leadership on April 27.
“While it may be uncomfortable for some lawmakers to be confronted with public outcry and forthright debate, that is the purpose of the legislative process and the freedom your constituents and duly elected representatives inherently have in your state capitols, and every state capitol in our nation,” they said.
Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), who will be running for reelection to hold his critical Democratic seat, spoke on the issue on the Northern Broadcasting Network.
“Banning a duly-elected representative is an extreme, undemocratic step that harms the thousands of Montanans who no longer have a voice in their government,” Tester tweeted Friday following his statement on the broadcast.
Zephyr was joined on MSNBC on Wednesday evening by Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) and Tennessee Democratic state Rep. Justin Jones to talk about how young people are standing up to GOP policies.
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“We need everybody working together, multiracial, multigender, coming together to fight for the world we deserve,” Frost, the youngest member of Congress and the first member of Generation Z elected, said.
“That's how we build an America that's true to its promise. And an America that's true to its promise — rejects fascism and embraces democracy. A democracy where somebody like representative Zephyr can stand up for their constituents, for her constituents, that deserve to have that representation,” he added.