CO Legislation

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.

Oppose Colorado’s Radical Abortion and ‘Transgender Rights’ Legislation

There are currently two pieces of radical legislation that would force taxpayers to pay for abortions and threaten parental rights. Focus on the Family needs our Colorado friends to stand firm against these two bills.

Abortion Bill

First, an extreme abortion bill – HB25-183 – has already been passed by the Colorado State Assembly and is awaiting Governor Jared Polis’ signature.

If signed, HB25-183 would:

  • Require the state to cover abortions as part of its Medicaid services.
  • Force Colorado taxpayers to spend millions of dollars every year paying for abortions against their consciences.

The fiscal note on this measure estimates abortions will cost taxpayers $5.9 million in the first year.

After passing the Colorado abortion amendment last fall, abortion activists are more brazen than ever in building Colorado’s reputation as an abortion destination state, and they want to force Colorado taxpayers to pay for it.

Daily Citizen reported this last month when a pro-abortion lawmaker gave shocking testimony, arguing it’s cheaper for the state to pay for abortions than pay for that baby to be born.

Please contact Governor Polis and urge him to veto HB25-183 to protect preborn babies, their mothers and the conscience rights of millions of Coloradans who do not support abortion.

“Transgender Rights” Bill

Second, a radical “transgender rights” bill – HB25-1312 – threatens parental rights and free speech.

If passed, HB25-1312 would:

  • Threaten parental rights by compelling parents to affirm their minor child’s gender confusion or potentially lose custody.
  • Threaten free speech by forcing schools and businesses to have gender-affirming policies or be sued for discrimination.

The bill unconstitutionally limits free speech, religious freedom and parents’ rights to provide for the care, nurturing, and moral and religious upbringing of their children.

It forces parents to support dangerous, experimental drugs, hormones and surgeries for their children struggling with sexual identity confusion.

This extreme measure would turn Colorado into a “trans-sanctuary.”

Erin Lee, a Colorado mom and the Executive Director of Protect Kids Colorado told the Daily Citizen:

CO HB 25-1312, on its face, is a blatantly unconstitutional violation of free speech and parental rights. What I find especially dangerous is defining non-affirmation of gender confusion as “coercive control” and allowing the courts to use it against parents. They are essentially bullying parents into transitioning their children, or else lose them.

Parents have long been bullied by the suicide myth, that you must transition your child or else they will kill themself. Now the state is adding to that: Transition your child or else we will take them from you. It fortifies our status as a wrong-sex mutilation sanctuary state, encouraging more people to move here and transition their children.

To learn more read the Daily Citizen’s analysis of the bill.

HB25-1312 has already passed the House and will now be considered by the Senate.

Urge your senator to vote no, and please consider testifying – in writing, remotely or in-person – against the bill when it goes before a Senate committee soon.

Please contact your state senator and the governor today to oppose these extreme measures.

We need your bold voice to defend life, parental rights and free speech.

Image from Shutterstock.