1:29
Zephyr is one of more than 300 LGBTQ candidates to take on elected roles across the country, according to the political advocacy group Victory Fund.
She says her win feels bigger than her: “I think about it more in what it means for my state to have a trans voice in that room, both myself and the nonbinary, trans nonbinary candidate who won their election, SJ Howell. When these anti-trans bills come to the legislature in Montana, there will be trans representation. And it makes a difference.”
She said that in the few days of legislative orientation she’s had to learn the ropes of the state legislature among her colleagues, she already “saw the difference” she was making.
“I was approached by a number of Republican legislators who said, ‘Hey, I want you to know, you're gonna get a lot of you-know-what here, but I'm really glad you're here. It's great to have you here. You let me know if people are causing you trouble,’” she said.
She continued, “we were able to hold very pleasant conversations and stay in touch and build the kind of rapport that I believe over time helps people understand what it's like to be a trans person in America today.”
And though Montana is a red state, Zephyr said she ran on progressive values, promising better housing, tax relief, mental health and LGBTQ rights.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/zooey-zephyr-01-abc-jt-221122_1669133791172_hpEmbed_29x16_384.jpg\")
She said her win proves that attempts to vilify LGBTQ people isn’t a winning strategy.
However, the attack on LGBTQ bar Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colorado, along with several other recent violent threats on the LGBTQ community, have hurt her deeply.
She says it's reflective of the impact that harmful political rhetoric against LGBTQ people can have.
“[Far-right politicians] stoke fear with their constituents, media, take those talking points and launder them and give them a sense of legitimacy,” Zephyr said. “And then someone will believe it, and believe it so deeply that they will seek us out and kill us. And that, to me, is the story that is repeating and repeating. And the story we need to fix.”
She urged people who feel motivated to help by the ongoing attacks on marginalized groups to get involved in their communities -- it's what pushed her into politics.
\"It starts with grounding yourself in your community, finding the place, and places where people need help. And then just helping relentlessly,\" she said. \"You can get involved, whether that's testifying, whether that's looking at working at your local nonprofits, you're always really close to doing the work that you want to do. And for me, that meant getting into a room where my voice could do good.\"
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