'Misgendering' now considered discrimination in this US state: Here's what the law says
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The bill, named the 'Kelly Loving Act' after a transgender woman killed in the 2022 Club Q shooting, expands Colorado's anti-discrimination laws. It no longer explicitly mentions the terms 'misgendering' or 'deadnaming', but it lays out provisions that indirectly address those actions by mandating inclusive practices across public records, education, and identification documents.
Originally, HB 1312 included far-reaching clauses, including a requirement that courts consider 'deadnaming' and 'misgendering' in child custody disputes as forms of coercive control.
Those sections were ultimately removed after significant public pushback and concerns raised by groups across the political spectrum. Over 700 people signed up to testify at a Senate hearing – the highest number for any bill this session.
Polis, a Democrat and the nation's first openly gay governor, acknowledged the controversy. He said he was 'not comfortable' with the family law provisions in the initial draft, praising the final version for better reflecting public consensus.
'A lot of the controversial parts were removed during the legislative process,' he added. 'What's left are a few provisions that make it easier to reflect the gender identity of folks.
'
Under the law, individuals can now update their marriage or civil union licences with a new name without the revised certificate being marked as amended. The same applies to sex designation changes on a Colorado driver's licence, which may now be made up to three times before a court order is required.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
In educational settings, students are allowed to choose names for any reason if a school has a name policy in place. Dress code policies must now permit all students to choose among available options, regardless of gender identity.
The bill also includes a clause that prevents Colorado courts from recognising laws from other states that would penalise parents for supporting a child's access to gender-affirming care.
Despite the removal of some of its original provisions, HB 1312 still marks a landmark moment in LGBTQ+ rights in Colorado. Sponsored by Democrats in both chambers, the bill passed 36-20 in the House and 20-14 in the Senate.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Arunachal Assembly to hold special session tomorrow to end golden jubilee celebrations
The Arunachal Pradesh Assembly will hold a special session on Monday to conclude the golden jubilee celebrations of the 60-member House, officials said on Sunday. An official said that over a month-long celebration, which began on July 4, would culminate with the special session on Monday (August 18), marking the state's legislative journey since 1975. Assembly Speaker Tesam Pongte last week held the business advisory committee meeting and finalised the schedules for the special session. Parliamentary Affairs Minister P.D. Sona, Assembly Deputy Speaker Kardo Nyigyor, and members Nikh Kamin and Thangwang Wangham attended the meeting. The Arunachal Pradesh Assembly, which began as a 33-member Provisional Assembly, was later expanded to a 60-member House. During the past five decades, the Assembly has played a pivotal role in making various laws, shaping policies and promoting grassroots democracy in the frontier state, which shares 1817 km long borders with China, Myanmar and Bhutan. Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu earlier emphasised the Assembly's role as a cornerstone of democracy in the state, noting how it has evolved over the past 50 years into a robust institution representing the diverse cultures and aspirations of Arunachal's people. He praised the contributions of past and present legislators, administrative leaders, and citizens whose collective efforts have driven progress in governance, infrastructure, education, and social development. The Chief Minister reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring inclusive growth for future generations. 'This is not just a celebration of the past, but a reaffirmation of our responsibility to build a more transparent, accountable, and responsive governance system,' he added. According to the officials, as part of the Assembly's Golden Jubilee celebrations, a series of events across the state, including special sittings of the Assembly, cultural programmes, and exhibitions, were held during the past five weeks showcasing the legislative history of Arunachal Pradesh.
News18
11 hours ago
- News18
Trump runs into difficulty of Putin diplomacy
Agency: PTI Last Updated: New York, Aug 17 (AP) President Donald Trump walked into a summit with Russia's Vladimir Putin pressing for a ceasefire deal and threatening 'severe consequences" and tough new sanctions if the Kremlin leader failed to agree to halt the fighting in Ukraine. Instead, Trump was the one who stood down, dropping his demand for a ceasefire in favour of pursuing a full peace accord — a position that aligns with Putin's. After calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, Trump wrote as he flew home from Friday's meeting in Alaska that it had been 'determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up." It was a dramatic reversal that laid bare the challenges of dealing with Putin, a cunning adversary, as well as the complexities of a conflict that Trump had repeatedly boasted during his campaign that he could solve within 24 hours. Trump's position after the summit with Putin Few details have emerged about what the two leaders discussed or what constituted the progress they both touted. The White House did not respond to messages seeking comment Saturday. While European leaders were relieved that Trump did not agree to a deal that ceded territory or otherwise favoured Moscow, the summit allowed Putin to reclaim his place on the world stage and may have bought Russia more time to push forward with its offensive in Ukraine. 'We're back to where we were before without him having gone to Alaska," said Fiona Hill, who served as Trump's senior adviser on Russia at the National Security Council during his first term, including when he last met Putin in Helsinki in 2018. In an interview, Hill argued that Trump had emerged from the meeting in a weaker position on the world stage because of his reversal. Other leaders, she said, might now look at the US president and think he's 'not the big guy that he thinks he is and certainly not the dealmaking genius." 'All the way along, Trump was convinced he has incredible forces of persuasion," she said, but he came out of the meeting without a ceasefire — the 'one thing" he had been pushing for, even after he gave the Russian leader the 'red carpet treatment." Trump has 'run up against a rock in the form of Putin, who doesn't want anything from him apart from Ukraine," she said. Democrats call for consequences for Putin At home, Democrats expressed alarm at what at times seemed like a day of deference, with Trump clapping for Putin as he walked down a red carpet during an elaborate ceremony welcoming him to US soil for the first time in a decade. The two rode together in the presidential limousine and exchanged compliments. Trump seemed to revel in particular in Putin echoing his oft-repeated assertion that Russia never would have invaded Ukraine if Trump had been in office instead of Democrat Joe Biden at the time. Before news cameras, Trump did not use the opportunity to castigate Putin for launching the largest ground invasion in Europe since World War II or human rights abuses he's been accused of committing. Instead, Putin was the one who spoke first, and invited Trump to join him in Moscow next. 'President Trump appears to have been played yet again by Vladimir Putin," said Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 'The President rolled out a red carpet and warmly greeted a murderous dictator on American soil and reports indicate he got nothing concrete in return." 'Enough is enough," she went on. 'If President Trump won't act, Congress must do so decisively by passing crushing sanctions when we return in the coming weeks." Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat who is the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he supports diplomacy but 'peacemaking must be done responsibly." 'Instead of caving to Putin, the US should join our allies in levying tough, targeted new sanctions on Russia to intensify the economic pressure," he said. Republicans and Trump allies offer little response so far In Washington, the summit was met by little response from Trump's allies. Republican lawmakers who spoke out were largely reserved and generally called for continued talks and constructive actions from the Trump administration. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, wrote on social media after the summit that 'while the press conference offered few details about their meeting" she was 'cautiously optimistic about the signals that some level of progress was made." Murkowski said it 'was also encouraging to hear both presidents reference future meetings" but that Ukraine 'must be part of any negotiated settlement and must freely agree to its terms." Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and close Trump ally, offered that he was 'very proud" of Trump for having had the face-to-face meeting and was 'cautiously optimistic" that the war might end 'well before Christmas" if a trilateral meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy and Putin transpires. 'I have all the confidence in the world that Donald Trump will make it clear to Putin this war will never start again. If it does, you're going to pay a heavy price," he said on Fox News. For some Trump allies, the very act of him meeting with Putin was success enough: conservative activist and podcaster Charlie Kirk called it 'a great thing." Some see a Putin win and a Trump loss But in Europe, the summit was seen as a major diplomatic coup for Putin, who has been eager to emerge from geopolitical isolation. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's Security Council, praised the summit as a breakthrough in restoring high-level dialogue between Moscow and Washington, describing the talks as 'calm, without ultimatums and threats." Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt said the summit was 'a distinct win for Putin. He didn't yield an inch" but was also 'a distinct setback for Trump. No ceasefire in sight." 'What the world sees is a weak and wobbling America," Bildt posted on X. (AP) GRS GRS (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 17, 2025, 10:45 IST News agency-feeds Trump runs into difficulty of Putin diplomacy Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
14 hours ago
- India Today
Not running for president in 2028: RFK Jr dismisses Laura Loomer's claims
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Friday dismissed speculation that he is preparing a presidential campaign for 2028. The rumours had been fuelled by right-wing activist Laura Loomer.'Let me be clear: I am not running for president in 2028. My loyalty is to President Trump and the mission we've started,' Kennedy wrote in a post on launched a 2024 presidential bid as a Democrat before becoming an independent, later dropping out and endorsing Trump. He has since joined the administration, leading the 'Make America Healthy Again' (MAHA) movement. Kennedy has faced pressure after Laura Loomer told Politico she feared Stefanie Spear, a top aide to the HHS secretary, was trying to 'utilize her position to try to lay the groundwork for a 2028 RFK presidential run.'FOCUS ON HEALTH PRIORITIESIn his post, Kennedy said his priority remains fighting chronic disease, the central mission of the MAHA movement.'The president has made himself the answer to my 20-year prayer that God would put me in a position to end the chronic disease epidemic — and that's exactly what my team and I will do until the day he leaves office,' Kennedy DEFENDS TOP AIDE STEFANIE SPEARKennedy also defended his top aide, Stefanie Spear, who has come under fire from Loomer over alleged disloyalty to Trump. Loomer has previously pressured the removal of officials she accused of insufficient loyalty to the former once an environmentally focused Democrat, worked with Kennedy at Children's Health Defence and served as his press secretary during his 2024 campaign. She joined Trump's coalition in 2024 and now works at MAGA loyalists have voiced concerns about her influence since Kennedy took office. But Tony Lyons, leader of the MAHA PAC that backed Kennedy, told The Hill that Kennedy 'never intended to run for president in 2028.'- EndsWith inputs from agenciesMust Watch
