Focus on the Family Testifies Against Nightmare Bill, Colorado’s Radical ‘Trans’ Legislation Advances

On Wednesday, April 30, Colorado lawmakers advanced one of the most radical trans bills in the history of Colorado, and likely, the nation.

HB25-1312 has received nationwide attention because it’s an attempt to codify extreme gender ideology that will threaten parental rights, free speech and religious freedom.

As introduced, the bill would compel loving parents who disagree with transgender ideology to affirm their minor child’s gender confusion or face losing custody of that child.

It would also threaten free speech by forcing schools and businesses to support gender-affirming policies and language or be sued for discrimination.

Over the last few weeks, thousands of people attended multiple rallies at the Denver Capitol to oppose the legislation.

Over 37,000 Coloradans signed a petition asking for lawmakers to kill the bill; more than 100,000 emails were sent to state senators urging those lawmakers to vote against the measure.

More than 700 people registered to give public testimony on the bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee — 80% of those individuals opposing the measure.

The public filled the main committee room and four additional overflow rooms.

In the end, lawmakers who support the bill limited public comment to only eight hours. Testimony began around 3:30 p.m. and concluded just before midnight which only allowed around 240 people (of the more than 700 registered) to testify.

Many people, including families, stayed late into the night, waiting for an opportunity to speak against the bill.

Focus on the Family had three of their analysts testify against the heinous measure and in support of families, parental rights and free speech.

Before passage, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved amendments to the bill in an attempt to silence the opposition, but those amendments were not sufficient to address the serious free speech, parental rights and religious freedom concerns.

The measure was passed out of committee by a party line vote of 5-2. It now moves to the full Senate for a vote.

The bill will need to go back to the House for another vote (because of amendments added by the Senate) before the legislative session ends next Wednesday, May 7.

Concerned Coloradans can still let their voices be heard by urging their senators and representatives to vote no on HB25-1312.

At Focus on the Family we know that parents have the God-given, fundamental right to direct the upbringing of their children including their healthcare decisions and their moral or religious training.

This is an obvious attempt to force state-sponsored radical gender ideology speech on Colorado families and it’s unconstitutional.