Colorado has passed a sweeping new law that could criminalize certain types of speech, including “deadnaming” or “misgendering” transgender individuals in public spaces. Critics argue it’s a dangerous assault on free expression.
Key Facts:
- Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed House Bill 1312, also called the “Kelly Loving Act,” into law on Friday.
- The law makes “deadnaming” and “misgendering” discriminatory acts under the state’s anti-discrimination law.
- It applies to public accommodations like schools, workplaces, and courtrooms.
- The bill also expands access for changing names and gender markers on official documents like birth certificates and marriage licenses.
- The law is named after a transgender individual killed in the 2022 Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs.
The Rest of The Story:
Governor Jared Polis signed House Bill 1312 into law, formally establishing the “Kelly Loving Act.”
The legislation extends Colorado’s anti-discrimination protections to include transgender individuals by making it illegal in certain settings to use a person’s former name or pronouns that do not align with their gender identity.
It covers public spaces like schools and workplaces and adjusts how official documents can be updated.
The bill also affects child custody decisions.
Courts must now consider “deadnaming” or “misgendering” as a form of “coercive control” when evaluating parental responsibilities.
Additionally, it bars Colorado courts from enforcing laws from other states that penalize parents for allowing gender-affirming care.
It also mandates inclusive policies on chosen names and dress codes in educational settings.
Supporters claim the law is a step toward equality and safety for transgender individuals.
Critics, however, warn it dangerously redefines speech as discrimination, setting a precedent that could ripple far beyond Colorado.
BREAKING: "Misgendering" now a CRIME in Colorado.
Governor Jared Polis signed HB-1312 into law Friday.
It defines "deadnaming and misgendering as discriminatory acts" which are prohibited in "places of public accommodation."
Mainstream Media framed it as "discrimination… pic.twitter.com/c2IYYIyfY7
— Resist the Mainstream (@ResisttheMS) May 17, 2025
Commentary:
This law is a direct challenge to the First Amendment.
Criminalizing speech—even speech many find offensive—goes against the very foundation of free society.
If the government can dictate what words we must use to describe someone, it can dictate anything else too.
By labeling “misgendering” and “deadnaming” as discrimination, the state is not just protecting people from harm—it is policing thought.
It’s one thing to promote politeness and respect.
It’s another to enforce them with legal threats.
This is especially concerning in schools and workplaces, where policies now require absolute adherence to chosen names and gender identities.
What happens to teachers or students who accidentally use the wrong name?
Will they face discipline—or worse, lawsuits?
The law’s implications for parenting are equally troubling.
A judge can now weigh a parent’s language or views on gender identity when determining custody rights.
That’s coercion by court order, not justice.
Worse still, the law blocks Colorado courts from recognizing laws in other states that might remove children from homes offering gender-affirming care.
This sets up a legal collision between states that will almost certainly wind up in federal court.
All Democrats have to do to stay competitive is avoid pushing fringe policies like this.
But again and again, they prove that even that is too much to ask.
Instead of focusing on the economy, crime, or border security, they prioritize forcing people to speak in ways that align with far-left ideologies.
It’s not just bad policy—it’s a moral and constitutional failure.
And it will likely be struck down when challenged in court.
The Bottom Line:
Colorado’s new law goes far beyond name changes and personal pronouns.
It imposes legal penalties on speech, opens up parents to scrutiny for their beliefs, and expands government control over how people must speak and behave.
Supporters may cheer it as progress, but it tramples the First Amendment and pushes society into dangerous territory.
Expect a legal fight—and fast.
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