Montana Democrats elect historic transgender leadership in the chamber that once silenced Zooey Zephyr

Democrats in the Montana House made history by electing a nonbinary lawmaker to lead their caucus.

Lawmakers picked Montana Rep. SJ Howell to serve as House minority leader, according to The Associated Press. Howell first made history in Montana in 2022 as the state’s first nonbinary lawmaker. Now, they will become the first transgender or nonbinary lawmaker in the country to lead a party caucus in a state legislative chamber.

The caucus also tapped Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr as one of three minority whips. That makes Zephyr the first out trans woman to serve as a party whip in a state legislative chamber, according to Erin in the Morning. Other transgender lawmakers have previously held caucus leadership positions, including Howell, who served as a minority whip.

“I am proud to announce that I have been elected as a Whip for the Montana House Democrats! We have an incredible leadership team, and are ready to get to work for Montana!” Zephyr posted on Bluesky. “Additionally, we are blessed to have Rep. SJ Howell as minority leader—the first trans/nonbinary party leader in the nation!”

Related: Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr wins reelection, will return to House floor after sanction

Howell, named by The Advocate as a Champion of Pride in 2022, has served as executive director of Montana Women Vote, a nonprofit economic justice organization that seeks to involve low-income women, LGBTQ+ people and Native women in the democratic process.

“Being an out queer and trans state representative might not stop anti-LGBTQ legislation from being introduced in Montana, but it will change the shape of the debate and let queer and trans Montanans know that they are represented in the rooms where decisions about their lives are being made,” Howell said at that time.

Related: Transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr wins reelection unopposed in Montana

Zephyr, who is married to transgender journalist Erin Reed, who publishes Erin in the Morning, advocated for transgender rights before being elected to the Legislature. Her elevation to caucus leadership comes three years after then-House Speaker Matt Regier refused to let her speak on the House floor. Republicans subsequently barred her from the floor for the remainder of the 2023 session after she refused to apologize for criticizing legislation restricting gender-affirming care for minors.

Democrats will hold 44 Montana House seats to Republicans’ 56 following the midterm elections, according to the Daily Montanan.