1st trans Montana legislator celebrates win with heartwarming story

The outcome of Zooey Zephyr’s contest for the Montana House of Representatives’ 100th district changed when her plane landed in Missoula, Montana. When she learned she had been chosen as Montana’s first transgender state legislator, she rejoiced on board with her supporters.

When the flight attendant inquired as to what was making her so joyful, Zephyr was the last person to leave the aircraft, she revealed ABC News in an interview.

She received congratulations from the stewardess after Zephyr informed her that she had won the election.

Zephyr told ABC News, “I walked a few steps away, looked around, and said, ‘I’m genuinely going to be the first trans woman to hold office in this state.'” “And she just broke down in tears. She then declared, “My son is trans.” Can I give you a hug?

In addition to discussing how his transition was going, Zephyr claimed the flight attendant also mentioned how the world was “a little bit dangerous right now,” in reference to the numerous anti-LGBTQ policies and political statements being supported by lawmakers all across the nation.

The flight attendant explained to Zephyr how she was and would always be her son’s strongest advocate.

She hugged me and said, “Moments like these seemed somewhere between serendipity and sacred. She had tears in her eyes as we left, Zephyr remarked. She later tweeted the tale, which gave her newfound optimism.

“It validates what I always understood, which is that there is always someone who loves us nearby. And that was accurate on the plane, it was accurate when it was posted, and I’m certain it’s accurate for a lot of trans people, as well as their parents and families, Zephyr added.

Zephyr is one of almost 300 LGBTQ candidates running for office nationwide, according to the political advocacy organization Victory Fund.

The nonbinary, trans nonbinary candidate who won their election, SJ Howell, and I are both trans voices in that chamber, and I think about what it means for my state to have a trans voice in that room more than anything else,’ she says. There will be trans representation in the Montana legislature when these anti-trans laws are introduced. It also has an impact.

She claimed that in the few days she had to learn the ins and outs of the state legislature from her colleagues during legislative orientation, she had already “saw the difference” she was making.

“Several Republican lawmakers came up to me and said, ‘Hey, I want you to know, you’re going to get a lot of you-know-what here, but I’m really glad you’re here. I’m glad you could make it. If someone is causing you any trouble, you let me know,'” she said.

We were able to maintain contact, have pleasant talks, and develop the kind of relationship that, over time, she added, “I feel helps people understand what it’s like to be a trans person in America today.”

In addition, Zephyr claimed that despite Montana being a red state, she ran on progressive principles, pledging improved housing, tax relief, mental health care, and LGBTQ rights.

She claimed that her victory demonstrated the futility of trying to demonize LGBTQ individuals.

She has been greatly wounded by the attack on the LGBTQ bar Club Q in Colorado Springs as well as other recent violent threats against the LGBTQ community.

She claims it’s an illustration of the damage negative political rhetoric towards LGBTQ people can do.

According to Zephyr, “[Far-right politicians] incite anxiety among their supporters and the media, take those talking points and clean them up to give them a feeling of legitimacy.” “And after that, someone who has a strong belief in it will seek us out and murder us. And to me, that is the narrative that keeps repeating itself. And the story that needs fixing.

She urged people to get active in their communities if they are moved to act by the continual attacks on marginalized groups; this is what inspired her to enter politics.

“Finding the locations and areas where individuals require assistance is the first step in establishing a solid foundation in your neighborhood. After that, merely continuously lend a hand “She spoke. “You are always very close to performing the job that you want to do if you get involved, whether it be by volunteering or giving testimony. And for me, that meant entering a space where my voice would be heard and appreciated.”