More info on the context here:
https://t.co/Vf9qALdp9o
More info on the bills here:
https://t.co/gqey05qNKZ
Committee chair begins by noting that the bills are "controversial" and there will be a lot of feelings. #MTLeg
These hearings are going to go very long. I will stick around as long as I can. #MTLeg
Notably, these hearings are happening in-person.
They are beginning on HB 112. This is the anti-trans sports bill. Beginning with the bill sponsor. #MTLeg.
The bill is offensively called the "Save Women's Sports Act". The "purpose" of the bill is to protect women's sports from men. BUT excluding trans women from sports does not bar men, it bars women who are trans.
I lost the feed but it is back. #MTLeg
Sounds like Rep. Eherdt from Idaho will be testifying (she is the sponsor of HB500). Her bill is currently blocked in court for being unconstitutional.
Looking for proponents of the bill. Beginning with Barbara Ehardt. She is very proud of her bill. Based on her experience as an athlete in women's sports in the 1970's. Now using her position to harm women who are different from her.
Talking about the difference between "men" and "women" - then switches to talking about "biological males". Notice the switch to add in "biological", which is an effort to important an anti-trans discourse.
Ehardt talks about the benefits of sports to women and girls. Apparently she does not think they apply to women and girls who are trans. Who apparently can't get breast cancer or experience intimate partner violence.
Who is a biological male? They don't say. Here are some myths about trans athletes debunked:
https://t.co/ay5Zb4rIfN
Now Ehardt talking about June Eastwood. Using male pronouns for her. Acting as though there is some universe of trans women out there competing. Of course - the truth is trans people are suffering and barely getting to college athletics at all.
There is absolute no threat to women's sports by including women and girls who are transgender. The proponents of this bill can point to all of four athletes all across the country who have had any success.
Now we are hearing from Beth - a woman, a wife, a powerlifter. She is not a scientist but is talking about science and distorting it. It is absolutely false that the Y chromosome is a source of ongoing physical changes.
These athletes are failing to note that such laws will harm all women and girls opening the door to policing the bodies of all women and girl athletes. #MTLeg
I can assure you that anti-trans voices are not the "silenced majority" - she is literally testifying in a public government hearing. While trans athletes are harassed, deterred from sport, and systemically attacked and murdered. #MTLeg
The investment in calling women and girls "males" and using he/him pronouns demonstrates the investment in dehumanizing trans youth and trans lives. #MTLeg
Now we have a "feminist". Explaining the difference between sex and gender - incorrectly. You can guess where this is going. #MTLeg.
Here is an article explaining the political imperatives behind speaking about "male" and "female" bodies as discrete and binary truths.
https://t.co/1oIe1CbezJ
There is absolutely no evidence of cis women being physically harmed by competing against trans women. This is a harmful myth that is about perpetuating fear of trans people and our bodies. #MTLeg.
The Montana family foundation now testifying - noted anti-LGBTQ youth group. Speaking about their opposition to Obama admin trans-inclusive policies. #MTLeg.
The Judge that Montana Family Foundation speaks of who enjoined Obama policies - Judge O'Connor - enjoined ALL Obama policies. #MTLeg
The idea that the Montana Family Foundation cares about women's sports or women is laughable. #MTLeg.
"Transgender males trounce the competition" - these are headlines read by the Montana Family Foundation. Invoking transphobic headlines to claim there is trans dominance. Invoking Terry and Andraya from CT with lies.
Speaking of CT - all of the cis women who challenged CT's trans inclusive policy received athletic scholarships and are competing in college. Neither trans woman is. The lies are easily disproven by fact. #MTLeg.
Lots of victimization on display by proponents of the bill. No real regard for the actual targets of the bill. #MTLeg
There is literally ZERO example of a person claiming to be a woman for purposes of dominating in sport. No policy allows people to change from men's and women's sports. #MTLeg
Going to stop with the proponent testimony now. It is all the same. The misogyny, transphobia and lies are all the same. #MTLeg.
Proponents of HB 112 are going to hurt all women and girls in the name of "saving" them. #MTLeg
NO MASKS I AM SO ANXIOUS. #MTLeg
Opponents of the bill will start now. #MTLeg
Zooey Zephyr is a trans woman and former wrestler explaining that trans people DO NOT transition to gain advantage in sports. Explaining the impact of hormone therapy on the body. #MTLeg.
Zooey explaining how painful and incorrect it is to paint a picture of trans women dominating in sports. #MTLeg
Laurel Hesse from
@ACLUMT now testifying. Explaining that we will sue if this bill is passed. WE WILL SEE YOU IN COURT. #MTLeg
Laurel explaining the multiple state and federal constitutional deficiencies of this proposed laws. We won in Idaho. We will win here. But let's not hurt kids anymore than we already have. #MTLeg
Just so you know, #MTLeg, this bill will cost you millions of dollars to defend in court. Not to mention the loss of business dollars and potential federal funding for education.
.@S_K_Rossi now testifying. Talking about how important it is for trans young people to be affirmed. And how many trans athletes are just not good at sports. #MTLeg
Reminder by Rossi that the people who are going to suffer most are the trans and nonbinary people in Montana who will be targeted, hurt, and excluded. #MTLeg.
Health care professionals OPPOSE HB112. #MTLeg
Local Reverend reading an open letter from 42 faith leaders opposing HB 112. #MTLeg
Montana Youth Action opposes HB 112. Representing youth from all political affiliations. #MTLeg
Athletes testifying in opposition explaining how harmful it is to exclude trans athletes. #MTLeg
More testimony to come in opposition. Pausing here until questions. #MTLeg.
Extensive testimony in opposition to HB112 - from Women's Sports Foundation, Athlete Ally, athletes, doctors, socials workers, health insurance companies. It is truly astounding that states would pass these bills over such extensive objection. #MTLeg
For more information about why these anti-trans sports bills are dangerous, unconstitutional, and opposed by major women's groups, women's athletes, medical associations and more, here are briefs from Idaho:
https://t.co/ebZA14ckzL
Also a reminder to #MTLeg how costly discriminatory legislation will be. Just remember North Carolina - $3.76 billion in losses. Is that what your state needs in a pandemic:
https://t.co/ML6sTG4h1W
Committee now beginning questions on HB112 (it is going to be a long day).
Dr. Wood was asked about how puberty blockers impact transition and athleticism. But this answer is not accurate. Puberty blockers would prevent assigned male individuals from ever undergoing their endogenous puberty blockers.
It is important to note that individuals assigned male who are treated with blockers then affirming hormones are physiologically equivalent to cis women when it comes to typical athletic performance. #MTLeg.
This is why even Doriane Coleman who is cited as a basis for the law opposes legislation like HB500 in Idaho and HB 112 in Montana - they sweep overbroad even based on the faulty premises they adopt. #MTLeg
Wow - asking if ACLU would support a women's team that is all trans women. This is just such a preposterous question. There is no future where this will happen but if it did it would be a future where we hold and accept the complexity of our bodies and experiences. #MTLeg
The completely absurd hypotheticals that trans women and girls are somehow in a position of dominance and power here are truly painful. Trans youth experience devastatingly high rates of violence, suicidality, and drop out of school because of discrimination. #MTLeg
Those talking about economic impact here should keep in mind the change in federal administration. You will have new threats from the federal government. #MTLeg
Rep. Ehardt claiming states that discriminate benefit economically. Patently untrue. North Carolina also repealed HB2 and had its replacement neutralized in court. #MTLeg
Keep in mind as well that forcing youth to live life based on their assigned sex amounts to state-sponsored conversion therapy. #MTLeg, the coercion and violence can be deadly. Read more here:
https://t.co/aoPy66bUwr
The #MTLeg is asking about the "equal protection for 'biological women'" - this is not about how EP works. The question is about treating people equally based on sex and transgender status. There is NO compelling interest in excluding trans people from sport.
As with HB500 in Idaho, HB 112 would be tested under heightened scrutiny and there is simply no sufficient government interest that is advanced by the law.
Notably no lawyers testifying in support of HB 112. Just a non-lawyer citing Espinoza saying we were told it was unconstitutional until SCOTUS upheld it. That isn't much of a defense of THIS law.
Now closing out the HB 112 hearing. Somehow bill sponsor saying that "drugs in sports" are a problem and that is why we shouldn't have trans people in sports. It is a path to perdition. Excuse me? (now citing Tulsi).
Every time Title IX is invoked in defense of these bills that every major women's rights organization opposes these bills including
@NWLC and
@WomensSportsFdn. #MTLeg
