Kelly Loving Act
| Kelly Loving Act | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Colorado Legislature | |
| Citation | [1] |
| Territorial extent |  Colorado |
| Enacted by | Colorado House of Representatives |
| Enacted | April 6, 2025 |
| Enacted by | Colorado Senate |
| Enacted | May 6, 2025 |
| Signed by | Jared Polis |
| Signed | May 16, 2025 |
| Effective | October 1, 2026 |
| Legislative history | |
| First chamber: Colorado House of Representatives | |
| Introduced | March 28, 2025 |
| First reading | April 1, 2025 |
| Second reading | April 4, 2025 |
| Third reading | April 6, 2025 |
| Voting summary |
|
| Second chamber: Colorado Senate | |
| Received from the Colorado House of Representatives | April 22, 2025 |
| First reading | May 1, 2025 |
| Second reading | May 5, 2025 |
| Third reading | May 6, 2025 |
| Voting summary |
|
| Summary | |
| Modifies the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act to provide legal protections to transgender individuals. | |
| Status: Not yet in force | |
Colorado House Bill 25-1312, known officially as the Kelly Loving Act and sometimes referred to as Legal Protections for Transgender Individuals, is a 2025 law in the state of Colorado that modifies the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act to provide protections for transgender people in the state.[1] It is named after Kelly Loving, a transgender woman who was killed in the 2022 Club Q mass shooting in Colorado Springs.[2][3][4] It was signed into law by Governor Jared Polis on May 16, 2025 following extensive amendments and will go into effect on October 1, 2026.[5][6][7]
As of June 2025, multiple lawsuits are pending over the Kelly Loving Act, claiming it violates free speech.[8][9][10] A provision was included that would have considered it "coercive control" to not use a child's preferred pronouns as a parent in a child custody dispute, but was removed before final passage.[11]
Provisions
[edit]The Kelly Loving Act includes general provisions against discrimination for transgender people. It can be considered discriminatory to not use a transgender persons' preferred name,[12] requires schools to allow students to dress in permitted ways that align with their gender identity,[13] and removes the need for a court order to change their gender marker on any form of identification if one has already had a change in the past.[14] It also acts as a "shield" law for minors receiving or wishing to receive gender-affirming medical care, prohibiting the enforcement of out-of-state laws regarding such care.[15]
Reactions
[edit]Support
[edit]The bill was generally supported by Colorado Democrats.[16] It was also supported by One Colorado, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group.[17]
Opposition
[edit]The Kelly Loving Act was opposed by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and the Baptist Press prior to final passage, referring to it as "radical gender ideology."[18][19] A group of around 100 education leaders sent a letter to the Colorado House Judiciary Committee in late April opposing the Kelly Loving Act.[20][21][22]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ McNeill, Zane (2025-05-07). "Trans-Led Advocacy Wins Hard-Fought Victory in Colorado Legislature". Truthout. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Powell, Laurel (2022-11-29). "HRC | HRC Mourns Kelly Loving, "Loving Friend & Caring Person," Killed in Club Q Shooting". Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Kristensen, Spencer (2025-05-16). "Kelly Loving Act signed into Colorado law". kdvr.com. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Henry, Melissa (2025-04-24). "Transgender rights bill named after Club Q shooting victim introduced in state senate". KKTV 11. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Henry, Melissa (2025-05-07). "Overhauled transgender rights bill passes Colorado Senate, heads to Governor's desk". KKTV 11. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Peterson, Nolan (2025-05-01). "Colorado Senate Passes "Kelly Loving Act" to Bolster Transgender Protections Amid Hot Debate". Hoodline. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Klamann, Seth (2025-05-16). "New Colorado trans rights protections signed into law by Jared Polis". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Felling, Carolynn (2025-05-20). "Lawsuit filed over Kelly Loving Act". FOX21 News Colorado. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Kim, Caitlyn (2025-05-28). "Trans rights law draws second legal challenge". CPR News. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Wilson, Sara (2025-05-20). "Parent groups sue Colorado officials over transgender rights expansion of anti-discrimination law". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Volodzko, David (2025-05-08). "Colorado reversal on misgendering ban is a crisis averted but a danger revealed". The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Deng, Grace (2025-06-04). "Clarifying claims that Colorado mandated use of a person's chosen name and pronouns". Snopes. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Keith, Tony (2025-05-07). "Colorado lawmakers pass Legal Protections for Transgender Individuals bill". KOAA News5. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Toomer, Lindsey (2025-05-06). "Heavily amended bill adding legal protections for transgender people passes Colorado Senate". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Toomer, Lindsey (2025-05-01). "Colorado bill on transgender protections advances with stripped down provisions". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Factor, Jacob (2025-04-10). "'Kelly Loving Act': Colorado lawmakers push for more transgender protections". FOX31 Denver. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Toomer, Lindsey (2025-03-31). "Colorado bills would add protections for transgender people". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ "ERLC & Colorado Baptists oppose radical "Kelly Loving Act"". The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. 2025-04-14. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Cockes, Timothy (2025-04-16). "Colorado bill would strip custody from parents who 'misgender' children". Baptist Press. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Cloherty, Megan (2025-04-30). "Southern Colorado educators oppose bill expanding transgender rights". KOAA News5. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Pachot, Norishka (2025-05-13). "Kelly Loving Act aims to reinforce existing transgender rights". FOX21 News Colorado. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Henry, Melissa (2025-04-29). "More than 90 Colorado school leaders urge lawmakers to stop transgender rights proposal". KKTV 11. Retrieved 2025-06-28.