Colorado Dem compares concerned parents to ‘hate groups’ in hearing: ‘Wouldn’t ask the KKK’

A Colorado Democrat recently sparked controversy during an hours-long committee hearing for a controversial bill that could potentially see parents accused of “coercive control” in custody disputes for using a transgender child’s former name. The Democrat likened parent groups to “the KKK” during the heated discussion.

Republican state Rep. Jarvis Caldwell raised concerns about the lack of stakeholder involvement from both sides of the issue during the hearing, questioning whether businesses and non-LGBT parent groups were included in the discussions. In response, Democrat state Rep. Yara Zokaie emphasized the importance of stakeholding in understanding the implications of the bills being passed. She argued that while stakeholder input is crucial, discussing the bill with hate groups is unnecessary. Zokaie pointed out that passing civil rights legislation does not require consulting with organizations like the KKK.

The bill in question, HB25-1312, aims to provide legal protections for transgender individuals in Colorado. It requires courts to consider actions such as deadnaming, misgendering, or threatening to disclose information related to an individual’s gender-affirming healthcare services as forms of coercive control in child custody decisions. The bill passed in a 7-4 vote out of the committee and is now set to be reviewed by the Assembly for a second reading.

If the bill is enacted, Colorado would become the first state to implement such legislation. Named after a transgender man, the Kelly Loving Act also prohibits Colorado courts from enforcing laws from other states that remove children from parents who support transgender treatments for minors.

Additionally, the bill addresses how educators should handle a student’s chosen name if it differs from their legal name. It mandates that educators must use the chosen name on all subsequent forms administered by the public entity to be inclusive of all reasons a student might adopt a chosen name.

After the contentious hearing, Rep. Caldwell voiced his concerns about Rep. Zokaie’s characterization of certain stakeholders as hate groups, calling it “deeply concerning” and “reckless.” He emphasized that parents who advocate for their children’s education and rights should be respected, not vilified.

In response to criticism, Rep. Zokaie clarified that the bill provides parameters for judges to consider in custody disputes and does not impose mandates. She highlighted that the word “consider” is repeatedly used in the bill, indicating that judges have discretion in applying the legislation.

The debate surrounding the bill underscores the complexities of addressing transgender rights and parental rights in custody disputes. As the legislation moves forward, stakeholders on all sides will continue to engage in discussions and debates to ensure a fair and just outcome for all parties involved.