Resource: Imperial Sovereign Court v. Knudsen

In May 2023, Governor Greg Gianforte signed House Bill 359 (“HB 359”) into law, banning “drag story hours” and a plethora of other speech and conduct, with the intent to silence the LGBTQ+ community. The bill’s sponsors meant to stop drag queens from leading story hours in schools and libraries. But the bill goes much further. And the result is a law that is as stupid as it is sinister. On July 6, 2023, a group of individuals and organizations from across the state, including the Imperial Sovereign Court of The State of Montana, Billings Public School teacher Rachel Corcoran, trans advocate Adria Jawort, The Myrna Loy, the Montana Book Company in Helena, Imagine Nation Brewing in Missoula, the Great Falls LGBTQ+ Center, Bumblebee Aerial Fitness, and the Western Montana Community Center filed suit with the aim of permanently enjoining this law.