Dear Governor Polis,

We the undersigned strongly urge you to VETO House Bill 25-1312. This is a dangerous bill that will endanger vulnerable children and teachers in Colorado, as well as undermine parents’ rights.

By inventing a right to sex change procedures in Colorado law and adding so-called “deadnaming” and “misgendering” to Colorado’s antidiscrimination laws, HB 1312 threatens a parent’s custody of their child if they don’t “affirm” the child’s chosen gender identity. Parents know their kids best, and they should not be considered “discriminatory” simply because they want to ensure their kids receive real help, not harm, if their kids are struggling with gender dysphoria.

HB 1312 would also require Colorado schools with dress code policies to allow children to choose from either male or female options to suit their supposed “gender identity.” It would also require schools with a “chosen name” policy to expand that policy to include chosen gender identity as a reason for a students’ requested name change.

Such requirements would perpetuate the dangerous “social transition” of children struggling with gender dysphoria. Social transition not only increases the already heartbreaking confusion these children are experiencing, but research shows that almost all children who socially transition eventually go on to undergo irreversibly harmful medical transition procedures like puberty-blockers, cross-sex hormones, and mutilating sex change surgeries. These children deserve real help, not the harm of social transition.

But these provisions also endanger Colorado school teachers and administrators. Under HB 1312, these dedicated public servants would be required to enforce these dangerous policies, even if their consciences were opposed to them. And since both provisions are required without parental knowledge or consent, they would force teachers and administrators to choose between their jobs and respecting parental rights.

Your constituents deserve better than the choices HB 1312 forces upon them, and vulnerable Colorado children deserve better than the harms of social transition. We therefore urge and expect your swift veto.