Rocky Mountain Equality, an LGBTQ advocacy group based in Boulder, is calling on state lawmakers to “negate the damage” of two voter-approved measures that generally bar transgender athletes from school sports teams that match their gender identity and ban gender-related surgeries for minors.
“This is devastating for a lot of kids, families, and communities,” Bruce Parker, executive director of Rocky Mountain Equality, said in a statement. “Right now, parents are wondering what this means for their children’s healthcare. Students are wondering if they’ll be allowed back on their teams or what they might have to do to be allowed to play.”
“The newly elected Colorado legislators have an opportunity to negate the damage these policies will cause, and we expect them to step up,” Parker said.
Proposition 134, which passed with 52% support, requires school sports teams in Colorado, from elementary school through college, to be designated male, female or coed based on biological sex. It bars transgender girls and women from female teams, and transgender boys and men from male teams unless no female team is offered.
Before the election, the Boulder Valley School District Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution opposing the measure, stating it would create an administrative burden, divert money from classrooms and harm student inclusion.
“I have grave concerns if this does pass and how this is going to impact students in our district and other districts across Colorado,” Rob Anderson, BVSD’s superintendent, told board members in October. “I’m committed to continuing to support and serve all of our students, especially our trans students, to make sure that they feel safe and they feel included and they feel like they belong.”
A separate measure, Proposition 135, which passed with 52% support, prohibits health care professionals from performing surgery on anyone under 18 for the purpose of “altering biological sex characteristics.” The measure does not cover hormones or puberty blockers.
Both measures were backed by Protect Kids Colorado, a conservative group led by Erin Lee, a Wellington mother. The group seeks to promote “biblical and biological truth” and oppose “sexualization & gender transition,” according to its website. Its donors include its affiliated nonprofit, which does not disclose its donors; Athletes for Action, a Pennsylvania group; Church for All Nations in Colorado Springs; and Jeff Coors of the Coors brewing family.
About 68% of Boulder County voters opposed Proposition 134 and 69% opposed Proposition 135, the second-highest levels of opposition to each measure among Colorado counties, behind Denver, according to data from the Colorado Secretary of State.
Both measures take effect Jan. 1, 2027. Because they change state statutes rather than the state Constitution, lawmakers can amend or repeal them.
State Sen. Judy Amabile, a Democrat from Boulder, said in a text message she would support “the effort to mitigate the harms of these measures.”
State Rep. Junie Joseph, also a Boulder Democrat, issued a statement Friday stating that she was “deeply disappointed” by the passage of the measures.
“Our responsibility as elected officials should be to protect the dignity and well-being of every young person, not make them feel like they have to defend who they are,” Joseph said. “Their identities are not something the government should be regulating or debating.”
Gov.-elect Phil Weiser has said he would like to see adjustments made to the measures.
Protect Kids Colorado also backed Proposition 133, which passed with about 62% support and makes child sex trafficking a Class 1 felony with a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole. Opponents have said that trafficking victims coerced into recruiting others could receive the same life sentence as their traffickers.
Since 2020, the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office has filed 10 cases of sex trafficking of a minor, according to District Attorney Michael Dougherty.
“My biggest concern with Prop 133 is that we not send victims who were forced into trafficking others to prison for life,” Dougherty said. “My Sex Crimes Unit does an excellent job identifying victims and treating them as victims. We will continue to use our approach and discretion to do so. Statewide, though, I worry about this law’s impact on victims.”
Dougherty said he hopes the state legislature does not repeal Proposition 133. “I strongly believe the will of the voters must be respected,” he said. “Rather, I would urge the Legislature to undertake a comprehensive review of drug offenses and sex crimes.”
About 56% of Boulder County voters opposed Proposition 133.
