MHRN condemns SB 458

Gov. Gianforte just signed SB 458, which is accurately labeled as one of the worst anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the entire country. The changes in this 61-page bill alter more than 40 pieces of current Montana law that will impact people from birth to childhood to marriage to death and erases the existence of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people. SB 458 uses archaic, invasive, and inaccurate definitions of reproductive capacity, appears to remove marriage equality, and walks back decades of women’s rights. 

With today’s signature of SB 458, Gov. Gianforte has made it clear just how far he is willing to go to ignore expert testimony from transgender and nonbinary people and medical professionals in Montana. This bill is clearly unconstitutional and will prevent Montana residents from obtaining official identification documents that reflect our authentic identities. When this cruel law is challenged in court, the Gianforte administration will waste valuable taxpayer funds defending it. MHRN condemns this bill, the harm it will do to the LGBTQ+ community, and the significant damage it will do to everyone who calls Montana home. We are committed to working with transgender, nonbinary, Two Spirit, and intersex community members to ensure that SB 458 does not take effect in October.