Colorado House Panel Advances Bill Expanding Transgender Protections

The Kelly Loving Act, which classifies 'deadnaming' and 'misgendering' as discriminatory acts, passed its first legislative hurdle with a party-line vote.

The Kelly Loving Act, named after a transgender woman killed in the 2022 Club Q shooting, seeks to expand anti-discrimination protections for transgender individuals in Colorado.
The bill classifies 'deadnaming' and 'misgendering' as discriminatory acts under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act and prohibits these practices in public accommodations.
It also allows courts to consider 'deadnaming' and 'misgendering' as forms of 'coercive control' in child custody cases involving transgender children.
The legislation would prevent Colorado courts from enforcing out-of-state laws penalizing parents for supporting gender-affirming healthcare for their children.
The bill passed the Colorado House Judiciary Committee on April 2, 2025, with a 7-4 party-line vote, reflecting strong partisan divisions and sparking debate over its constitutionality and broader implications.