From the ACLU, this is at Liberty. I'm Kendall Seasmeyer, your host.

This year has brought a new level of anti-democratic behavior, particularly situated in state

houses and legislatures.

In March, Representative Mari Turner from Oklahoma was censured for offering a protester the use of an office in the aftermath of an arrest. In April, two Tennessee state representatives, representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, were ousted for speaking up for their constituents,

protesting against gun violence. And then in May, Representative Zoe Zephyr was centered for

her vocal opposition to a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors. The retaliation experienced by

these elected officials hints at a growing vulnerability to express dissent in politics and government.

A worrying trend.

The rise in bans on the LGBT community is being met rightfully so with protest.

The exact mechanism we have for showing disapproval and standing up for our

values in our representative democracy. Now, when that mechanism is threatened, we are all threatened,

and the LGBTQ community is even further put at risk. Joining us today to talk about this

silencing effect are Representative Zoe Zephyr from Montana

and Representative Mari Turner from Oklahoma. Representative Zephyr, Representative Turner,

thank you both so much for joining us. Thank you for having us. Thanks for having us.

Amazing. It's an honor, really, to be speaking with you both. I want to start our conversation

off with saying, happy pride. I wanted to hear first how you both are celebrating pride this year.

So I'll be celebrating pride in two ways. One is turning to my community back in Montana.

Mazula's pride is coming up here in the middle of June.

And so I will be with them.

And then the other thing is I'm going to be traveling the country to a variety of

prides across the country.

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