Colorado has the potential to face major lawsuits regarding new laws on trans protection and how they violate freedom of speech and parental rights.
On Friday, Gov. Jared Polis signed the law Kelly Loving Act, which expands the anti-discrimination protections of anti-discrimination people by allowing a person’s “choose name” as a form of “gender expression” that is protected by the Colorado Anti-discrimination Act (CADA).
Now that the bill has passed, organizations defending education have sued the state on behalf of the state, Colorado Parents’ Advocacy Network and protect children Colorado organizations are not concerned about the law’s possible violation of their right to freedom of speech.
"The new definition of 'gender expression' in this bill is unconstitutional," the lawsuit reads. "Because it covers any treatment based on the use of 'choose name' or other forms of preferred' addresses, many forms of constitutional protection are punished."
Colorado's "totalitarian" transgender bill raises parents' concerns
A new Colorado law will make a person’s “choose name” a protected form of gender expression. (Fox News figures)
It continues: "When speakers refer to transgender identification in individuals using biologically accurate terms, they raise an idea about the hot ass politics issue: gender ideology. This kind of rhetoric is at the heart of the First Amendment. However, the bill's definition of "gender expression" makes all such speech discriminatory and unparalleled."
The lawsuit adds that because CADA prohibits “publishing discriminatory issues,” the new bill may ban and may punish individuals, including parents, because they publicly disapprove of changing their names and genders.
In a statement to Fox News, Sarah Parshall Perry, vice president of defense education, said the law “uzzles” parents and doctors protect the state’s “preferred gender orthodoxy.”
"Colorado can't seem to stop failing in the Supreme Court regarding the constitutional challenges facing its anti-discrimination laws. However, the governor of Torres signed another anti-discrimination bill that explicitly violates the constitution, which can only be described as a good casting of a spell," Perry said. ”
Defend Education believes that the new law violates the right to criticize gender ideology. (Getty Images/Istock)
DE is seeking a preliminary and permanent injunction to implement this new definition because it violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the use of “unconstitutional coverage” and enforces “forced speech.”
"No harm is proud to challenge Colorado's ridiculous so-called anti-discrimination bill. It is wrong to make Americans' constitutional right to freedom in the name of radical gender ideology. We hope the court reiterates that the constitution outweighs progressive dogmas,''
Fox News Digital contacted the governor's office for comment.
Since its launch in March, the Kelly Love Act has been under fire by conservatives and Colorado parents. Including a ruling in the protection in the original bill, “dead last name, error or threat to publish material related to a person’s gender-affirming medical service” can be considered as forms of “forced control” that may affect the custody of the parents of their children.
After facing backlash, Colorado lawmakers eventually removed language about “dead names” and child custody, although opponents still criticized the broad linguistic elements of the bill.
Colorado parents lift free lawmakers to push for a controversial gender bill
Over the past few years, the Supreme Court has involved multiple cases involving Colorado's anti-discrimination laws. (Getty Image)
Colorado has been the center of several high-profile cases in its anti-discrimination laws over the past few years. Jack Phillips, the owner of the most notorious masterpiece, has been sued several times for refusing to bake a cake to celebrate a same-sex wedding or a gender transition.
In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled against the state, finding that Colorado's anti-discrimination laws cannot force graphic designers to create wedding websites for same-sex weddings in a violation of her beliefs.
Click here to get the Fox News app