Zephyr, Montana’s first openly trans lawmaker, later called the measure a “distraction from the work we were elected to do” and thanked colleagues who voted against it.

A measure to bar Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr, the state’s first transgender legislator, from using the women’s restroom at the state capitol failed to pass the House rules committee Tuesday, with several Republicans voting against it.

Zephyr was not directly named in Rep. Jerry Schillinger's measure, but she is the only member of the legislature to whom the rule would apply.