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Montana politics, elections and legislative news

Crowd Calls For LGBTQ Rights At Capitol 'Rainbow Rally'

Demonstrators gathered for a "Rainbow Rally" at the Montana State Capitol Monday, March 15, 2021 to protest bills moving through the state Legislature that would impact the LGBTQ community.
Shaylee Ragar
/
Montana Public Radio
Demonstrators gathered for a "Rainbow Rally" at the Montana State Capitol Monday, March 15, 2021 to protest bills moving through the state Legislature that would impact the LGBTQ community.

The Montana Capitol steps were submerged under a sea of rainbow colors Monday as a group rallied in protest of bills moving through the Legislature that would impact LGBTQ residents.

"We want them to know we’re here, we’re queer and we’re not going anywhere," Shawn Reagor, an organizer with the Montana Human Rights Network, told a crowd outside the state Capitol Monday afternoon. 

"Please be who you are and love who you love."

There are four bills in particular that LGBTQ advocates and allies oppose. The bills separately propose banning transgender women from participating in interscholastic sports, regulating health care for trans youth and adding requirements for trans people wishing to legally change their birth certificates.

The "Religious Freedom Restoration Act" passed the Senate and is scheduled for it’s first hearing in the House next week. Opponents of the bill say it will allow for discrimination of LGBTQ Montanans. Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras recently spoke in support of the bill on behalf of Governor Greg Gianforte, saying there is a need for further protection of religious freedom. 

"You have heard the list of cases where state or local government has taken actions that have unduly burdened the exercise of free religion," Juras said.

All four bills opposed by LGBTQ advocates are carried by Republicans, who argue the legislation is needed to stop transgender youth from making permanent health care decisions and to keep interscholastic sports fair. 

Democratic House Minority Leader Kim Abbott said her caucus will continue to push back against the proposals.

"You guys have shown up week in and week out in hostile committee hearings to tell your stories and the stories of your families and the stories of your communities, and I have to tell you that it makes a difference. It moves people."

All four bills are advancing, but none have reached Gov. Gianforte’s desk yet for consideration.

Shaylee covers state government and politics for Montana Public Radio. Please share tips, questions and concerns at 406-539-1677 or shaylee.ragar@mso.umt.edu.  
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