Colorado Legislature Passes Radical ‘Transgender’ Bill With Amendments
The Colorado Legislature passed a radical “transgender” bill on Tuesday, May 6, after numerous amendments were made to the legislation.
Colorado’s HB 1312, titled the “Kelly Loving Act,” was originally – and still is – one of the most radical pieces of legislation we’ve seen in a long time. You can read more about the original version of the bill, which passed the Colorado House on April 6 in a 38-20 vote.
However, the bill was so radical that several of the nation’s most powerful and influential LGBT activist groups expressed concerns about the bill and requested various amendments to it.
After a weeks-long delay, the bill was finally introduced in the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 22, and a hearing was held on April 30. While 70 people showed up to support the bill, more than 400 arrived at the Capitol to testify against it.
Thanks to all those who raised their voices, expressed their outrage and voiced their concerns with the bill, the legislation’s sponsors heavily amended the bill before it was considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
HB 1312’s Amendments
Section 2: The revised version of the bill completely guts Section 2, which would have allowed the government to remove children struggling with sexual identity confusion from their parent’s custody if they “misgendered” or “deadnamed” them.
In place, the amended version of the bill’s Section 2 allows individuals to change their name on their marriage license.
Section 3: The amended bill also entirely revises Section 3, which originally would have prohibited the state’s courts from complying with another state law permitting an agency to remove a child from their parent or guardian because they are facilitating their child’s “gender transition.”
The amended bill’s Section 3 changes state law, revising the law stipulating county clerks “shall” issue marriage licenses, now requiring they “must” do so.
Sections 4, 5 and 6: The original bill would have eliminated sex-based dress codes in public schools and allowed every student to abide by any variation of the dress code. It also would have allowed any student to change their name from their given, legal name in both public and charter schools.
The revised bill’s Sections 4, 5 & 6 stipulate that anyone may change their name at any time on their valid civil union license. Furthermore, the amended bill maintains that public and charter schools must permit students to choose their own name. In Section 7, the amended bill still permits each student to choose from any options provided in the dress code.
Sections 8 & 9: Originally, the bill would have added “deadnaming” and “misgendering” to the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, “prohibiting these discriminatory acts in places of public accommodation.”
The amended bill essentially maintains this policy, revising Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) to protect an individual’s “chosen name” and “gender expression,” This means intentionally calling an individual by their birth name and biological pronouns, in contradiction to their preferred name and pronouns, would be an act of discrimination and subject to all relevant penalties.
This would force individuals throughout the Centennial State to use false and incorrect language when speaking to a “transgender” individual, thus violating the free speech, religious freedom and consciences of many.
Sections 11, 12 & 13: The amended bill added Sections 11, 12 & 13 which permit an individual to amend the sex designation upon their driver’s license, identification card and identification document … up to three times.
HB 1312 Progresses
The committee subsequently voted to recommend the bill to the full Senate, which then passed the bill on May 6 in a 20-14 vote.
On the same day, the Colorado House agreed to the Senate’s changes and passed the amended bill in a 39-24 vote. The bill has now been sent to Gov. Jared Polis’ desk for approval. He can sign the bill, veto it, or choose to do neither. If he does not act on the bill, it will automatically become law on June 13.
While some of HB 1312’s original provisions that were overtly threatening to families have been removed from the bill’s final version, the legislation’s amended version is still deeply concerning and unconstitutional.
HB 1312 could still facilitate children confused over their sexual identity being removed from their parents’ custody by adding “gender expression” and one’s “chosen name” to CADA. For example, a school counselor who learns that a student’s parents do not affirm their sexual confusion could still report the parents for discriminating against their child.
Additionally, the bill still prohibits sex-based dress codes in public and charter schools and forces individuals throughout Colorado to play along with an individual’s chosen name and false pronouns.
Please contact Gov. Jared Polis and urge him to veto HB 1312. You can contact the governor’s office at: (303) 866-2471. You can also email Gov. Polis at [email protected] or sign a petition urging the governor to veto the bill.
Please also consider posting the following on X:
- HB 1312 pushes radical gender ideology on our children and poses a serious threat to religious freedom and free speech. @GovofCO should VETO this harmful bill.
Thank you for your involvement and attention to this important matter.
Related articles and resources:
Radical Colorado ‘Transgender’ Bill Threatens Parents’ Rights and Free Speech
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