Zooey Zephyr has a lot on her plate.

This weekend, the Montana lawmaker is set to marry her fiancé, Erin Reed. She expresses her excitement over final tasks like choosing earrings and picking their wedding song, noting, “Everything is finally coming together.”

This happy occasion provides a break from a tumultuous period in the life of the 36-year-old Democratic Representative. Her recent challenges are the focus of the new short documentary, “Seat 31,” which has just been released. Last year, Zephyr, who serves the Missoula area, was silenced in the state House after telling her peers they would “have blood on your hands” due to efforts to prohibit gender-affirming healthcare.

She reflects on the increasing severity of discrimination, stating, “Frankly, the cruelty we’ve witnessed has only become more pronounced over the last two years,” adding that it can feel overwhelming at times, as if she’s “standing with her arms open in the ocean, helpless against the waves of pain crashing into her community.”

The documentary chronicles her ousting from the Montana legislature and intersperses scenes of joy as she champions her community, highlighting the ongoing battle for transgender rights throughout the country.

Recently, she celebrated a significant victory as Montana legislators blocked a bill that would have barred her from accessing the women’s restroom, where she has always felt comfortable. Some Republican members surprisingly supported her.

This event is particularly noteworthy, especially with House Republicans planning to introduce legislation that challenges Representative-elect Sarah McBride, a transgender woman from Delaware. The topic of McBride’s bathroom use has stirred extensive discussions and national headlines.

Zephyr is determined to resist any regression: “Every step you give into hate will result in hatred taking greater ground.”

‘I witnessed legislators turning a blind eye’

Before venturing into politics, Zephyr was a dance instructor at the University of Montana, teaching Lindy Hop during evenings and actively engaging in activism, particularly assisting individuals with discrimination claims. She began her transition in 2018 and received tremendous support from her community: “People around me—whether at work, during dance classes, at the farmer’s market or in my neighborhood—ensured I felt supported and cared for.”

In 2021, she recalls the experience of testifying on behalf of the transgender community in the legislature: “I observed as legislators simply refused to listen to trans voices.” With encouragement from former Montana Senator Bryce Bennett, she decided to run for office.

‘Would have directly targeted me’

Zephyr attributes the backing she received from her colleagues during the restroom controversy to their personal connection with her. “It’s challenging to implement harsh policies aimed at someone you know and care about,” she elaborates. “The proposal in Montana was one that would have directly affected me.”

This strategy mirrors the successful approach of advocates for marriage equality. “It becomes increasingly difficult to vilify a community when you care for someone within it,” she notes.

Despite the gains made, the rise in anti-trans legislation remains alarming (albeit with glimpses of optimism).

“When a multitude of policies is aimed at a group, some may think, ‘if we just concede ground on this matter or that one, it will cause these bills to decrease.’ However, the opposite occurs; it only heightens the fear mongering,” she warns.

Faced with a potentially hostile administration towards trans rights, Zephyr hopes for the ability to “safeguard the spaces we need to support each other.”

Regarding the Supreme Court’s impending decision on gender-affirming care—whether states can restrict transgender teens from accessing puberty blockers and hormone therapy—Zephyr asserts that “no legislation can change who trans individuals are.”

“One of the remarkable aspects of the trans and queer communities is that we’re not just present in your neighborhoods; we are integral members of every community,” she concludes.