Colorado House Bill 1312, titled “Legal Protections for Transgender Individuals,” is a shocking example of government overreach in a legislative session that has been marked by countless radical proposals. From extreme anti-Second Amendment gun control measures (SB25-003) to reinforcing “sanctuary” protections for illegal immigrants (SB25-276), Colorado’s session has been contentious. However, HB25-1312 stands out for its direct assault on parental rights and First Amendment freedoms, cloaked as anti-discrimination protections.
Public opposition to HB25-1312 has been significant yet ignored by Colorado’s officials. The bill was rushed through the House, with Rule 16 –– a legislative tool that allows the body to end debate and immediately take a final vote — invoked to stifle debate from Republican representatives.
At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on April 30, 700 Coloradans signed up to testify against the bill, 10 times the 70 people who testified in support of the measure. Yet only 150 opponents were allowed to speak before state Sen. Julie Gonzales, the committee’s chair, ended public testimony, citing an arbitrary eight-hour limit.
I was among the 500-plus constituents silenced that day. I had waited more than 11 hours on Zoom to speak out against the bill while still managing family responsibilities, only to realize the bill’s sponsors were uninterested in what I and so many other Colorado families had to say. More than 100,000 emails and 33,000 signatures opposing the bill likewise have been disregarded, revealing a troubling disconnect between the Colorado General Assembly and the people our legislators are supposed to represent.
It all culminated last week when Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis quietly signed the controversial bill on Friday evening. That same day, Polis posted a “victory video” of all the legislation he was signing, but conspicuously left the heavily contested and radical HB25-1312 out.
For Colorado parents like myself, the debate over this law isn’t just about gender ideology. It’s also about the fundamental principles that define America. The fact is this bill undermines two cornerstones of our liberty: parental rights and free speech.
First, the bill erodes the sacred right of parents to guide their children’s upbringing, education, and care. Section 2 of the bill would have allowed judges to consider “misgendering” and “deadnaming” one’s own child as forms of abuse to be considered in custody battles. While this section was amended out, given the disregard for public opinion thus far, Coloradans are not holding their breath that it won’t be introduced again in the future.
The bill also requires schools to accept a student’s “chosen name” without consulting their parents and facilitate a minor’s desire to change their sex designation (allowing the change three times before requiring a court order). Inserting the state into deeply personal family decisions violates the principle that individuals — not the government — hold primary responsibility for their families. The founders of our nation would have viewed such interference as a dangerous overreach.
Second, HB25-1312 threatens First Amendment rights by criminalizing speech, such as not using another’s “chosen name,” preferred pronouns, or “gender identity,” and considers these to be discriminatory acts. This sets a precedent for state control over private expression, a chilling prospect for any Coloradan who values open discourse and religious liberty. A state where citizens fear speaking freely in their homes, schools, churches, or businesses is fundamentally un-American.
Colorado deserves policies that balance compassion with respect for individual liberties, not ones that overstep constitutional boundaries. Policing speech and undermining parental authority is not the government’s role.
The bill’s sponsors, predominantly from Denver and Boulder, do not reflect the will of all Coloradans, which perhaps is why they sought to silence our dissent rather than allow the families who will be affected by this law to be heard.
But Colorado parents will not back down. In fact, a few days after Gov. Polis signed the bill, a collection of parent groups represented by Defending Education sued the state of Colorado, citing concerns that HB25-1312 violates First Amendment rights and punishes constitutionally protected speech.
Things are changing quickly with respect to this bill, but we hope legal actions like this reflect a return to common sense and are a step in the right direction toward upholding the values that make America — and Colorado — free.
Margo Simpson, a Dartmouth College graduate and former captain of the Division I Women’s Lacrosse team, moved from a successful technology consulting career at IBM and Vail Resorts to championing education and engaging in local civic issues. As a mother of three, a Colorado native, and a dedicated board member for ACE Scholarships and Ladies For Liberty, she passionately works to make Colorado a better place for the next generation.
