Montana

How Three Anti-Trans Bills Were Struck Down in Montana

Published

11 months ago

April 10, 2025

How Three Anti-Trans Bills Were Struck Down in Montana

In a climate of constant loss, it’s difficult to contextualize anything as a “victory.”

Since President Trump and his administration took office in January, there have been more mass deportations and disappearances, revocations of international student visas, endless violations by Israel of their ceasefire agreement with Palestine, constant hits to the global economy, more federal funds withdrawn from educational institutions, closures of the branches of the federal government created to take care of us, and further degradation of the rights of both trans adults and trans children. And the Democrats, for their part, seem mostly content to let a lot of this keep happening regardless of the fact that much of it is illegal. The U.S. government has always enacted fascist policy on marginalized people — which is why much of this comes as no surprise to people who are familiar with the actual history of this country — but the last few months have shown there aren’t many barriers the president, his loyal band of followers, and most of the elected Republicans in office are unwilling to cross.

That is, until the last few weeks when Montana Republicans stood in opposition to anti-trans legislation making their way through the state’s government.

Throughout the U.S., state legislature after state legislature have taken their cue from the federal government (and, I would argue, the state of Florida) by trying to pass and enact anti-trans laws that target everything from trans youth in sports to gender-affirming healthcare to bathrooms (again). Although some states already experienced the brunt of these attempts and the passing of anti-trans legislation before the new administration took office, it’s obvious the political leaders in many places — including Democrat-led California — are feeling emboldened to parrot anti-trans rhetoric and push this legislation through due to the work happening in the White House and on Capital Hill.

The Montana Legislature Introduced Three Anti-Trans Bills

Over the last month, a set of House and Senate Bills in Montana aimed at queer and trans people were introduced to the legislature only to be defeated not just by the elected Democrats in the state, but also many of the elected Republicans. The first bill, HB 675, sought to define all drag performances as inherently “sexual” and give parents permission to pursue legal action against any drag performers and promoters for “psychological, emotional, economic, and physical harm” “caused” by a performance.

The second bill, HB 754, sought to take parental custody away from any parents who allow their trans children to pursue and receive gender-affirming care in any capacity.

The final bill, Senate Bill 164, sought to revamp Montana’s child endangerment laws by classifying gender-affirming care for trans youth as felony child abuse. The bill was written so vaguely that its target could encompass not just a child’s legal guardians but also their doctors, nurses, teachers, and other caregivers. And as Erin Reed points out: “It ma[de] no exception for care obtained legally out of state—simply bringing prescribed medication across state lines could render a Montana parent a felon. The bill also d[id] not limit enforcement to Montana residents; even a parent visiting Glacier National Park or Yellowstone with their transgender child could face felony charges for carrying estrogen, testosterone, or puberty blockers.”

All Three of Montana’s Anti-Trans Bills Were Voted Down — With Republican Support

After an impassioned floor speech on the art of drag, the realities of Drag Story Hours, and the bill’s connection to anti-trans oppression by Representative Zooey Zephyr, Montana’s drag bill was defeated 44-55, with 13 Republicans voting it down.

In her speech, she explained what actually happens at events like Drag Story Hours at local libraries, saying:

“This [law] is going to be attempted to be applied as an attack against the trans community […] because in committee, when the sponsor closed on this bill, he said ‘This bill is needed.’ He said and I quote his words, ‘Because transgenderism is a fetish based on crossdressing.’ Those were his words for why this bill is necessary, and I’m here to stand before the body and say that my life is not a fetish. My existence is not a fetish.”

Similarly, the parental custody bill was defeated — with 29 Republicans voting it down — following a speech by Representative SJ Howell wherein they pointed out how difficult it would be for the state’s Child Protective Services to actually do what is required of the bill should it become a law: “Put yourself in the shoes of a CPS worker who is confronted with a young person, 15 years old maybe, who is happy, healthy, living in a stable home with loving parents, who is supported and has their needs met? And they are supposed to remove that child from their home and put them in the care of the state? We should absolutely not be doing that even if you disagree.”

This week, the final bill, SB 164, which would have severely criminalized gender-affirming care for trans youth, was defeated following another floor speech by Representative Howell. The speech addressed the broadness of the bill, the other uses of the treatments used for trans children, and the way the bill limits parental rights. During their appeal, Howell made it very clear that this bill is nothing but destructive for the families it could affect and the state itself. They said:

“We have a lot of tools at our disposal as the legislature to regulate healthcare, but felony criminal charges are not the appropriate tool for that job. Lastly, but certainly not least, this bill has a lot of concern for me about parental rights. At the end of the day, there are a lot of parents out there […] a lot of parents of trans kids who are just doing what they believe is best for their kids. This criminalizes those parents. This is going to end up with families that are facing unbelievably difficult decisions. […] I understand there’s a lot of concern and a lot of mixed opinions about this type of healthcare but turning parents and doctors into felons is absolutely not the approach that best serves this state.”

This time, 17 Republicans voted it down.

What Do These Trans Wins in Montana Mean Moving Forward?

Considering the ground that has been laid for these kinds of bills to pass through state legislatures without much of a fight, it is extremely interesting to see this pattern emerging, especially in a state many would quickly write-off with preconceived notions of what it must be like to live there as a trans or queer person.

These legislative victories are, of course, due in no small part to the labor of Representative Zephyr and Representative Howell. Their unwavering commitment, as not only trans people but also as elected officials, to standing up and speaking up for trans people in the state — and, in essence, everywhere — shows that the voices of those willing to do this work aren’t being ignored as much as many think they are. We can’t say for sure how these votes would’ve gone without them giving their testimony and their analyses of these bills, but it’s also hard to doubt the enormous impact their respective efforts have had on the outcome of these votes.

Beyond that, the actions of the Montana Republicans involved in these votes also set a useful and powerful precedent that could continue to ripple through other state legislatures. Republicans generally rarely break rank — particularly in regards to policies and initiatives that have become extremely popular for the party — in such a principled manner as they have in the Montana legislature this past month. These bills presented Republicans a quandary that was impossible for them to fully square in their minds: How can they purport to be the party of “parental rights” if they continually take them away?

As President Trump and his cronies continue to amp up their increasingly violent attacks on both civil rights and the general state of U.S.’s appearance to the world around us, it appears as if at least some people in the GOP are recognizing the flaws in their pursuit of what being “great again” actually means for their constituents. And more to the point, they might just be growing a little weary of pursuing the bogeyman that was created through the scapegoating of trans people when there are bigger issues at hand. At least, we can keep hoping that’s the case and keep amplifying legislative victories like these out of Montana.

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Montana

Evacuation orders issued as 5,000-acre wildfire burns near Roundup, Montana

Published

9 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Evacuation orders issued as 5,000-acre wildfire burns near Roundup, Montana

ROUNDUP, Mont. —
The Rehder Creek Fire is burning 16 miles southeast of Roundup has grown to about 5,000 acres, prompting evacuation orders for residents in the Bruner Mountain Area/Subdivision.

The fire started Feb. 26, the cause is unknown and containment was at 0%.

Evacuation orders are in effect for all residents in the Bruner Mountain Area/Subdivision. The Musselshell County Sheriff’s Office is coordinating the evacuation orders, and 911 reverse calls have been sent out to advise people in the area.

A shelter is opening at the Roundup Community Center. Residents were told to contact Musselshell County DES for further information.

Firefighter and public safety remain the top priority. The public is asked to avoid the Fattig Creek and Rehder Road area so emergency personnel can safely and effectively perform their work.

Fire resources assigned to the incident include 40 total personnel, 11 engines, one Type 2 helicopter, three tenders and two dozers.

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Montana

February 26 recap: Missoula and Western Montana news you may have missed today

Published

21 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

February 26 recap: Missoula and Western Montana news you may have missed today

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Montana

Escobar, Jayapal, Members of Congress Call on Camp East Montana to be Shut Down – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Escobar, Jayapal, Members of Congress Call on Camp East Montana to be Shut Down – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) – joined by Representative Pramila Jayapal, the Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, and 22 other Members of Congress – sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons calling for the immediate closure of Camp East Montana in El Paso. They cite urgent humanitarian concerns following multiple deaths in custody, documented unsafe conditions, and serious deficiencies in medical care.

This marks the fourth letter Congresswoman Escobar has sent to DHS and ICE leadership. The previous three letters have gone unanswered.

The letter can be found in its entirety below and here.

“Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons:

We are urgently calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS or the Department) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to shut down Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas.

Camp East Montana has been operational for six months, and at least three people have died at the site since December 2025: Francisco Gaspar-Andres, Geraldo Lunas Campos, and Victor Manuel Diaz. The El Paso County Medical Examiner has officially ruled Lunas Campos’ death a homicide, citing “asphyxia due to neck and torso compression.”

Camp East Montana was constructed in a matter of weeks and opened before construction was complete and it does not have enough federal staff on-site to provide adequate oversight. Over the last several months, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, in whose district this facility is located, has sent multiple letters to DHS and ICE regarding concerns about the conditions at Camp East Montana, and has received no responses.

According to detainees, there have been constant and consistent problems at the facility since it opened, beginning with the facility’s poor construction and poor ambient temperature control. Upon opening, the drinking water at Camp East Montana tasted foul and made some detainees sick. Detainees continue to be served inadequate meals, including food that is rotten or frozen; last fall, the facility was also consistently failing to make dietary accommodations for detainees. Detainees have shared that they have sporadic access to outside spaces and recreational areas, and that their dormitory pods are cleaned only once every eight days, despite pods housing up to 72 people at a time. Laundry services are not consistent, and people are washing their clothes in the facility showers. Additionally, the facility experiences flooding and sewage backups when it rains, leading to stagnant water.

One of the biggest concerns with the Camp East Montana facility is the inadequate medical care being provided to detainees. Our offices have heard that only the most ill detainees are referred to the medical unit and that there are inconsistencies as to how soon after arriving detainees are able to undergo initial medical screenings. Detainees with chronic health issues who rely on regimented medications for their health have had difficulty accessing necessary medications, including blood pressure medication and insulin.

At least one of the deaths that occurred in ICE custody, the death of Francisco Gaspar-Andres, appears to partially be the result of poor medical care by staff at the facility. According to ICE’s own account, Gaspar-Andres sought medical attention from facility staff for increasingly serious symptoms, but was only transferred to an area hospital once his condition had severely deteriorated.

In addition to our concerns about poor medical care, we are also aware that detainees have experienced irregular access to their legal counsel, including instances of detainees having only two minutes allotted per phone call every 8 days, which is contrary to ICE’s Detention Standards on access to counsel, and that the belatedly created law library lacks adequate resources for the amount of people currently held at the facility. In January 2026, ICE announced the on-site death of Geraldo Lunas Campos “after experiencing medical distress.” ICE opened an investigation into the death, but did not provide a cause of death. However, The Washington Post later reported that another man detained at Camp East Montana had witnessed guards choking Lunas Campos when he refused to enter a segregated housing unit. Weeks later, the El Paso County Medical Examiner ruled that Lunas Campos had experienced “asphyxia due to neck and torso compression” and ruled his death a homicide.

Lunas Campos is the first detainee to die at Camp East Montana as a result of a use-of-force incident, but we are strongly concerned that he will not be the last if ICE is allowed to continue operating Camp East Montana.

ICE was given $45 billion in taxpayer dollars in the reconciliation bill, $1.2 billion of which were awarded to Acquisition Logistics, LLC, a company with no previous experience managing immigration detention facilities, to build and oversee Camp East Montana. However, in the wake of three deaths in custody so far, continued concerns about conditions at the facility, and ICE’s apparent disinterest in responding to oversight letters from Congress, we do not believe Camp East Montana is being run professionally or responsibly.

Camp East Montana must be shut down. For the safety of everyone at the facility, for an end to abuses to detainees, and for fiscal responsibility to the American people, the site cannot continue to operate. We are calling on DHS and ICE to move to immediately close operations at Camp East Montana.

We look forward to hearing from the Department promptly on this matter.

The other co-signers include Representatives Yassamin Ansari, Nanette Barragán, Yvette Clarke, Lloyd Doggett, Maxwell Frost, Jesús “Chuy” García, Sylvia Garcia, Daniel Goldman, Jimmy Gomez, Henry Johnson, Stephen Lynch, Seth Moulton, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Delia Ramirez, Andrea Salinas, Janice Schakowsky, Darren Soto, Rashida Tlaib, Paul Tonko, Lauren Underwood, Gabe Vasquez, and Nydia Velázquez.

Issues: Immigration

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