Here in Colorado a piece of legislation—House Bill 25-1312—is moving through the State Legislature under the banner of protecting transgender individuals. However, this bill poses significant risks to parental rights, especially for parents who hold a biblical view of human identity, design, and flourishing.
The bill has already passed the Colorado House of Representatives and is now before the State Senate. If it passes that, it will go to the desk of Governor Polis to be signed into law.
The Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University strongly urges the Colorado Senate to vote ‘No’ on the proposed bill. “HB25-1312 sets a dangerous precedent by punishing those who live out their biblical convictions,” said Greg Schaller, Centennial Institute director.[1]
What the Bill Says
Among other things, HB25-1312:
- Directs courts in child custody cases to consider behaviors such as deadnaming (addressing someone using their birth name) or misgendering (referring to someone by their biological pronouns) as forms of “coercive control.”
- Prohibits Colorado courts from recognizing laws from other states that restrict access to “gender-affirming care” (hormone treatment and surgery) for minors without parental consent.
- Frames a parent’s hesitance or objection to gender transitions as potentially harmful conduct in custody disputes.
What Does This Mean?
1. Loving Parents Could Lose Custody of Their Kids for Holding Biblical Convictions
A Christian parent who lovingly urges their child to embrace the gender which aligns with their biological sex, or does not sign off on making irreversible decisions like hormone therapy or surgery, could be accused of “coercive control” for upholding their biblical convictions, and have their children taken away.
2. Parental Disagreement Could Be Treated as Abuse
HB25-1312 equates disagreement with harm, if parents do not affirm the child’s new name or identity. These legislators are trying to define what constitutes a child’s “best interest,” taking that decision away from parents – not to mention that they are defining the child’s best interest based on a particular ideology. If someone doesn’t share their ideology, they are deemed to be abusive and not acting in the child’s “best interest.”
3. It Sets a Precedent Against Religious Belief
Christians believe biological sex is part of God’s design. To force parents to affirm something that they believe to be untrue puts them in a moral bind: give up their convictions or lose custody of their kids.
What Can Christians Do?
2. Contact State Senators
You can find your Colorado State Senator’s email address here.
3. Sign this Petition for the State Senate and Governor Polis to veto the bill
4. Pray that this bill does not get passed
Theology for the People 