Lawmaker Zooey Zephyr Proposes to Girlfriend at Queer Promenade
The final two weeks for Montana’s first trans lawmaker, Zooey Zephyr, and her girlfriend (now fiancée) Erin Reed, have been as onerous to look at from afar as they’ve been awe-inspiring.
First, on April twenty sixth, republican lawmakers — who maintain the bulk — voted to censure Rep. Zephyr in a party-line vote, barring her from the ground for the rest of the legislative session. This got here after she spoke out in opposition to proposed laws that may ban gender-affirming take care of transgender minor. The invoice, often called Montana Senate Invoice 99, prevents the administration of puberty blockers and has since been singed into regulation by Gov. Greg Gianforte. Talking on the Home flooring, Zephyr warned her colleagues “in the event you vote sure on this invoice and sure on these amendments, I hope the following time there’s an invocation, if you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood in your fingers.”
Zephyr’s censure got here after Tennessee Republicans issued the same retaliation in opposition to Democrats of their state for main protests in opposition to gun violence on the Home flooring after the GOP refused to take motion following a mass taking pictures at a Nashville faculty. Tennessee state Reps. Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, and Gloria Johnson led the protests, with the 2 black lawmakers — Jones and Pearson — being made to face the censure. Each males have since been reinstated to their seats.
Although they initially tried to have me faraway from the general public seating space, I’m right here engaged on behalf of my constituents as finest I can given the undemocratic circumstances.
I am speaking to legislators, listening to debate, voting on payments, and combating for democracy. pic.twitter.com/Ea8y7a48LC
— Rep. Zooey Zephyr (@ZoAndBehold) April 27, 2023
Following her censure, Zephyr powerfully started finishing her work from the general public hallways of the Montana Home, regardless of various intimidation tactics. She has been steadfast that she’ll proceed to work “on behalf of my constituents as finest I can given the undemocratic circumstances.” Zephyr was elected to her place with greater than 80% of the vote and represents 11,000 constituents.
Zephyr additionally filed an emergency order permitting her to return to the Home flooring. The district court docket decide ruled against her, upholding the choice of the GOP lawmakers. Zephyr and the ACLU of Montana at the moment are suing the state over a violation of her First modification rights, in addition to the rights of her constituents.
Somebody simply tried to SWAT my girlfriend.
Those that hate trans individuals are doing every little thing of their energy to silence & hurt us. However we won’t be deterred.
We are going to stand in defiance of their cruelty, and by no means cease working till trans folks get to reside our lives in peace. https://t.co/FGf86vu0nj
— Rep. Zooey Zephyr (@ZoAndBehold) May 2, 2023
Final week Tuesday, there was a a SWATing try — a harassment tactic the place somebody falsely calls the police in opposition to an harmless goal, wit the aim of getting their home invaded — in opposition to Zephyr and her associate, Erin Reed, an impartial journalist and LGBT activist. The try happened at Reed’s dwelling in Maryland. Reed, who noticed this kind of factor coming, had beforehand been in touch along with her native police division. She credit that forward thinking partially for stopping the SWATing try from ending in potential violence. Reed is maybe most well-known for her impartial work creating a map that breaks down legislative dangers to trans folks throughout all 50 states.
I do know that this an extended and possibly even intense story to guide into an engagement announcement put up — content material that we at Autostraddle historically label form of tongue-in-cheek as “vapid fluff.” I couldn’t convey myself to make use of that label right here, as a result of I don’t discover something “vapid” nor “fluffy” about Zooey Zephyr and Erin Reed’s good, decided, resolute love story. Theirs is proof that love is a revolution.
On Friday, whereas at an area queer promenade (🥺!!) Zephyr proposed. The couple introduced their engagement on social media quickly after.
Tonight I requested Erin to marry me.
A yr in the past, I advised Erin that I used to be searching for a love that felt like dwelling.
I’ve discovered that and a lot extra. I’ve discovered my future, my household, and my endlessly. pic.twitter.com/ntLayGwGJo
— Rep. Zooey Zephyr (@ZoAndBehold) May 6, 2023
“A yr in the past, I advised Erin that I used to be searching for a love that felt like dwelling,” wrote Zephyr. “I’ve discovered that and a lot extra. I’ve discovered my future, my household, and my endlessly.”
At Queer Promenade tonight, Zooey dropped to 1 knee and requested me to spend endlessly along with her.
I stated sure.
I can consider no higher particular person on this world to face facet by facet with.
She has made me the luckiest girl alive. pic.twitter.com/70oXTWKimT
— Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) May 6, 2023
“Zooey dropped to 1 knee and requested me to spend endlessly along with her,” Reed shared. “I stated sure. I can consider no higher particular person on this world to face facet by facet with. She has made me the luckiest girl alive.”
On behalf of everybody at Autostraddle, I need to want Zooey and Erin nothing however power and happiness — the identical power and happiness that they’re reflecting again on us as a queer group each single day. This battle that we’re in, it’s ugly. However on the opposite facet of that battle is love. Getting us by way of the battle can be love. Let there at all times be love.
