After a lengthy and heated debate that stretched into the early morning, the Colorado Senate has passed the “Kelly Loving Act,” named in honor of a victim of the 2022 Club Q shooting. The bill aims to expand anti-discrimination protections for transgender individuals, with a particular focus on minors. It also addresses issues like school dress codes and policies on chosen names.
The bill’s passage follows strong opposition, notably from educators in Southern Colorado, who voiced concerns that the legislation could create legal and social conflicts for schools, undermining local control over school districts. In response to these concerns, amendments were made to the bill, including the removal of a section that would have classified misgendering and deadnaming as forms of abuse in child custody cases, as well as adjustments to provisions on dress codes and the publication of deadnames.
Senator Chris Kolker (D-Littleton) explained, “This is about keeping kids safe, preventing bullying, ensuring our public systems reflect the dignity of all people and sending a message that … even in moments of political noise, Colorado still leads with compassion,” as reported by Axios. The bill also safeguards access to gender-affirming care and mandates that schools with chosen-name policies honor transgender students’ preferred names, without altering existing parental notification requirements.
While the political debate continues, and as Colorado positions itself as a counterbalance to restrictions in more conservative states, some LGBTQ advocates have expressed concern that the bill’s language could undermine existing protections. Nevertheless, the bill is part of Colorado’s broader effort to support transgender individuals, building on previous legislation that allows death certificates to reflect a person’s gender identity and requires health insurance coverage for gender-affirming care.
