Staff ReportsColorado’s state legislature is at the center of a heated national debate as the “Kelly Loving Act” advances toward a vote in the State Senate. This sweeping bill, already passed by the House, would require judges to consider “misgendering” and “deadnaming” as forms of “coercive control” in child custody cases. In effect, parents who refer to their children by their birth names or biological pronouns, rather than affirming a chosen gender identity, could be penalized in custody disputes. The legislation also expands anti-discrimination law to include these actions and mandates that public schools allow students to choose dress code options regardless of biological sex, all without parental consent.
Many see this bill as a direct assault on the rights of parents to raise their children according to their values and beliefs. The state is poised to insert itself into the most intimate family decisions, threatening to label traditional parental guidance as “abuse” simply for not embracing radical gender ideology. This is a dangerous precedent: it empowers the government to override parental authority and undermines the family unit, which has long been the cornerstone of American society.
Religious and liberty-minded groups have sounded the alarm, warning that the bill tramples on both religious freedom and free speech. Forcing parents, teachers, and even pastors to use language that conflicts with their deeply held beliefs is the very definition of compelled speech. It’s not just a matter of pronouns—it’s a matter of conscience. The bill’s broad language could expose parents and faith-based organizations to lawsuits and state intervention simply for adhering to biblical or traditional views on gender, threatening to criminalize dissent in the name of “progress.”
The response from Colorado’s conservative leaders has been swift and resolute. Lawmakers, pastors, and advocacy groups have rallied at the Capitol, calling on citizens to defend parental rights and religious liberty. They argue that the state’s overreach is not only unconstitutional but also deeply harmful to children, who need stability and guidance, not the confusion that comes from government-imposed ideology. As one lawmaker put it, “Parents should not be punished for disagreeing with a certain ideology.” The bill, they contend, is less about protecting children and more about enforcing conformity.
As the Kelly Loving Act heads to the Senate, the eyes of the nation are on Colorado. This bill is a watershed moment in the ongoing struggle over the role of government in family life and the definition of parental rights. If passed, it will set a troubling precedent for other states, signaling that the state, not parents, knows best how to raise America’s children. For those who believe in the sanctity of the family, freedom of conscience, and the right to dissent, now is the time to speak out and stand firm.
