gender

Opponents of the measure have said the bill ignores the variation in humans, including LGBTQIA members who would be effectively wiped from legal existence if the law is passed.

Three Republicans – Sens. Greg Frazer of Deer Lodge, Mike Hopkins of Missoula, and Tom Welch of Dillon – joined 32 Democrats in voting against the bill, which passed a crucial second reading 65-35.

Sens. Jen Gross and Susan Webber write, "Instead of taking seriously the trauma and damage inflicted on so many Montanans, Republicans chose to proceed with this bill that targets one community, making them less before the law."

The bill’s many opponents say it could not only discriminate against Montanans who don’t define themselves the way the bill defines sex but could also cost the state an unquantifiably large amount in legal fees because of that discrimination.

A technical note prepared by the Office of Commissioner of Higher Education and the Montana University System said that because this bill creates conflict with federal law, it may jeopardize federal funding the school system receives.

Montana Human Rights Network writes, "Emails given to senators on the committee show that the OBPP did not include technical notes from the Montana University System showing a significant and detrimental impact to the state’s colleges and universities."

Proponents of a bill moving through the Senate that would define what the terms male and female mean in Montana law say it would have no financial impact on the state.

Arizona legislators are beginning to file bill proposals for the upcoming legislative session and one of the first seeks to restrict the use of students’ preferred pronouns in schools.