Trans sanctuary states? Colorado is barreling toward becoming the first. Two monstrous gender bills to facilitate this transformation have just passed through the Colorado legislature. They now sit on Gov. Jared Polis’ desk for his likely signature, even though California Gov. Gavin Newsom refused to sign a similar bill in California because it was so radical.
In fact, The Denver Post reported that major gay advocacy groups in Colorado first endorsed the legislation, then pulled their support late in the game, “worried about legal backlash if the bill passed.” When I, a research analyst for Focus on the Family, testified against one of the bills at the state house just days ago, a Gays Against Groomers representative joined me, literally elbow to elbow, with his fiery oppositional testimony.
Crazy times. The trans lobby is targeting your vulnerable kids and grandkids, regardless of where you live, telling them they have safe haven here in Colorado, protected from the reach of anyone who doesn’t agree with them.
Just as the Rocky Mountain state became a national destination site for any and every abortion procedure, these two ghastly bills will enshrine my beautiful state as a trans destination site. The effort even has its own dedicated organization: The Trans Continental Pipeline. They guarantee “We help Transgender, Queer and LGBT individuals move from unsafe/unaccepting environments within the U.S. to Colorado through a 4-step relocation program!”
These two potential laws — HB 25-1312 and HB 25-1309 — work together to make sure youth in Colorado and your state have everything they need to fulfill their gender non-conforming wishes. HB 1309 requires every health care plan operating in the state, public and private, to pay for every kind of trans surgery and hormone treatment imaginable. The bill details a comprehensive shopping list of permanent body and facial modifications. If you can imagine it, it’s covered. The bill claims this is “medically necessary” health care and dictates that any mental health counselor can sign off on its need. Kids just have to look for the tell-tale rainbow and ally symbols on a school office door or social media and they have their golden ticket. Your child becomes a gender medicine patient for life.
Penalties for Opposition
HB 1312 takes care of the next step, essentially silencing any responsible adult who refuses to fully affirm such radical changes. The bill underwent massive rewriting late in the legislative process because of the horrible press it earned (and subsequent anxiety from gay groups) over language saying parents could lose custody of their children and teachers could lose their jobs if they did not fully support any child experimenting with his or her natural biology.
Although the explicit penalties of loss of custody for parents and employment for teachers for “misgendering,” “deadnaming,” or failing to use one’s new “chosen name” were struck from the final language, the bill still makes such things fully punishable violations under state law. This bill, entitled “Legal Protections for Transgender Individuals,” expressly “ensures that every Coloradan is able to enjoy freedom from discrimination.” Fewer, seemingly safer words. Same result.
Mandatory Reporting
Wholly subjective “gender identity” and “gender expression” are protected under Colorado statute and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, the very law that has kept cake decorator Jack Phillips tied up in court for a grueling 13 years. This means all mandatory reporters in Colorado (the list of such professionals is lengthy) could report any parent who refuses to fully affirm his or her child as an abusive violation of that child’s basic civil rights. Despite the late changes in the bill as passed, “deadnaming” and “misgendering” will still be punishable offenses.
What is more, HB 1312 abolishes any sex-based dress code in all Colorado public and charter schools. Just as stunning, the bill unwittingly admits the ridiculous subjectiveness of gender identity — and codifies it in state law.
Changing A State ID — Three Times
Since 2019, any adult can change their birth certificate, driver’s license, or state identification card in Colorado by fiat to reflect their newly created gender. No other party — medical or legal — need substantiate the change. However, this new bill broadens and amplifies the subjectivity of trans identity by allowing anyone to change their state identification “three times upon the individual’s request.” Three times!!
What sane scenario would ever call for this? This new amendment demonstrates gender activists are now admitting “gender identity” is no longer about finding “one’s true self” but rather creative self-expression and exploration based on subjective feelings and norm-challenging. That can be the only reason for three no-questions-asked changes to one’s official documents beyond male or female. At least trans activists are being more honest about the game they are demanding each of us play along with.
Beautiful Colorado: Soon to become your child’s unimpeded, fully funded, judgement-free gender experimentation destination state.
Jesus Christ is King
