Over Half a Million Signatures Collected to Protect Kids and Parental Rights in Colorado
Last week, Protect Kids Colorado submitted over half a million signatures to the Colorado secretary of state in support of three statewide ballot initiatives centered on child protection, parental rights and fairness in girls sports.
The citizen-driven effort represents an “unprecedented” and “against all odds” massive mobilization — not powered by a political party or corporate funding, but by more than 3,300 volunteers standing outside grocery stores, attending local gatherings and knocking on doors across the state.
Each measure requires at least 124,238 valid signatures to qualify for the 2026 ballot. All three initiatives exceeded that threshold by a significant margin — though the secretary of state has yet to officially verify the signatures.
Here are the details and stats on each measure.
Stop Child Sex Trafficking
• Measure #108: Colorado’s Children Are Not For Sale
• Imposes life in prison without parole for anyone who buys or sells a minor for sex in Colorado.
• 170,000+ signatures collected and submitted.
Protect Girls Sports
• Measure #109: Protect Women and Girls Act
• Requires Colorado athletic teams to be specifically designated as male, female or co-ed. It unequivocally declares that only biological females will play in female sports.
• 170,000+ signatures collected and submitted.
Ban Irreversible “Transgender” Surgeries on Minors
• Measure #110: Protect Children from Irreversible Sex Change Surgery Act
• Prohibits irreversible transgender surgeries for anyone under the age of 18.
• 164,000+ signatures collected and submitted.
Videos posted by Erin Lee, executive director of Protect Kids Colorado, on her X account captured the moment boxes of petitions were delivered to the secretary of state.
The deliveries were more than just a step in the process — they represented hundreds of thousands of conversations taking place in parking lots and churches and at youth sporting events and kitchen tables all across Colorado.
If the required number of signatures is confirmed by the Colorado secretary of state, Colorado voters will have the final say over whether these measures become state law.
Earlier this legislative session, proposals addressing similar policy concerns as those raised in the ballot measures were introduced. In several instances, the bills were indefinitely postponed in committee — a procedural action that effectively kills them.
Advocates of the legislation (and ballot measures) view this as evidence that the citizen initiative is the only current plausible way forward to positively change the law.
Colorado’s Constitution specifically provides the citizen initiative process for exactly this kind of situation.
Focus on the Family is a proud supporter of this grassroots effort to protect children and parental rights.
Since the signature gathering began, we’ve been encouraging our friends and allies to help the effort and sign petitions.
Now, we wait prayerfully as the Colorado secretary of state verifies signatures, which is expected to take several weeks.
Congratulations and well done to Protect Kids Colorado and the thousands of volunteers who worked tirelessly to keep kids safe and protect parental rights!
Related articles:
Sign These Three Ballot Petitions to Protect Kids and Parental Rights in Colorado
Colorado Committee Kills ‘Children Are Not for Sale Bill’
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