Colorado Passes Groundbreaking Trans Rights Legislation
A Colorado bill was passed in honor of Kelly Loving, a beloved trans woman killed in the 2022 Club Q shooting.
Early Wednesday morning, after nearly 10 hours of emotional, raw testimony, the Colorado House Judiciary Committee passed House Bill 1312—a.k.a. The Kelly Loving Act—named after transgender woman Kelly Loving, killed in the 2022 Club Q shooting.
The bill aims to expand protections under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, making it explicitly illegal to intentionally misgender or deadname someone in public accommodations. Yes, that means calling someone by the wrong name or pronoun on purpose—because spite isn’t free speech, it’s discrimination.
“This bill is about making sure anti-discrimination laws aren’t just a feel-good promise on paper, but a lived reality,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, one of the bill’s sponsors. And that reality matters most for trans youth, who despite what the headlines often scream, are just trying to live their lives with a little less fear and a little more truth.
The legislation also bolsters family court protections. Judges would be required to consider whether a parent is misgendering or deadnaming their trans child during custody battles. And if another state tries to punish a parent for supporting their kid’s gender-affirming care? Colorado says: Nope, not on our watch.
Related: Trump’s Latest Attack On Trans Youth Defies Medical Consensus And Basic Human Dignity
Supporters filled the room. Trans teens, parents, doctors, and advocates spoke about trauma, suicide rates, and resilience.“I’m alive today because I had access to gender-affirming care,” said Sky Childress, one of many voices testifying to what’s at stake.
Of course, opponents showed up too, citing the usual playbook: parental rights and moral panic. But the bill passed the committee 7-4, a small but significant victory on the road to becoming law. The next stop is the Senate.
In a moment when trans people are being targeted across the country, Colorado is offering something rare: protection and dignity backed by law. The Kelly Loving Act sends a clear message—not just to trans people of Colorado, but to the nation: You deserve to be called by your name.
And if this becomes the law, Colorado will be one of the places proving that progress is possible and worth fighting for.
