Kelly Loving Act

Kelly Loving Act
Colorado Legislature
Citation
Territorial extent	Colorado
Enacted by	Colorado House of Representatives
Enacted	April 6, 2025
Enacted by	Colorado Senate
Enacted	May 6, 2025
Signed by	Jared Polis
Signed	May 16, 2025
Effective	October 1, 2026
Legislative history
First chamber: Colorado House of Representatives
Introduced	March 28, 2025
First reading	April 1, 2025
Second reading	April 4, 2025
Third reading	April 6, 2025
Voting summary	36 voted for 20 voted against 9 absent
Second chamber: Colorado Senate
Received from the Colorado House of Representatives	April 22, 2025
First reading	May 1, 2025
Second reading	May 5, 2025
Third reading	May 6, 2025
Voting summary	20 voted for 14 voted against 1 absent
Summary
Modifies the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act to provide legal protections to transgender individuals.
Status: Not yet in force

Colorado House Bill 25-1312, known officially as the Kelly Loving Act and sometimes referred to as Legal Protections for Transgender Individuals, is a 2025 law in the state of Colorado that modifies the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act to provide protections for transgender people in the state. ^[1] It is named after Kelly Loving, a transgender woman who was killed in the 2022 Club Q mass shooting in Colorado Springs. ^{[2] [3] [4]} It was signed into law by Governor Jared Polis on May 16, 2025 following extensive amendments and will go into effect on October 1, 2026. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

As of June 2025, multiple lawsuits are pending over the Kelly Loving Act, claiming it violates free speech. ^{[8] [9] [10]} A provision was included that would have considered it "coercive control" to not use a child's preferred pronouns as a parent in a child custody dispute, but was removed before final passage. ^[11]

Provisions

The Kelly Loving Act includes general provisions against discrimination for transgender people. It can be considered discriminatory to not use a transgender persons' preferred name, ^[12] requires schools to allow students to dress in permitted ways that align with their gender identity, ^[13] and removes the need for a court order to change their gender marker on any form of identification if one has already had a change in the past. ^[14] It also acts as a "shield" law for minors receiving or wishing to receive gender-affirming medical care, prohibiting the enforcement of out-of-state laws regarding such care. ^[15]

Reactions

Support

The bill was generally supported by Colorado Democrats. ^[16] It was also supported by One Colorado, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group. ^[17]

Opposition

The Kelly Loving Act was opposed by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and the Baptist Press prior to final passage, referring to it as "radical gender ideology." ^{[18] [19]} A group of around 100 education leaders sent a letter to the Colorado House Judiciary Committee in late April opposing the Kelly Loving Act. ^{[20] [21] [22]}

See also

• LGBTQ rights in Colorado

References

1. McNeill, Zane (2025-05-07). "Trans-Led Advocacy Wins Hard-Fought Victory in Colorado Legislature". Truthout. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
2. Powell, Laurel (2022-11-29). "HRC | HRC Mourns Kelly Loving, "Loving Friend & Caring Person," Killed in Club Q Shooting". Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
3. Kristensen, Spencer (2025-05-16). "Kelly Loving Act signed into Colorado law". kdvr.com. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
4. Henry, Melissa (2025-04-24). "Transgender rights bill named after Club Q shooting victim introduced in state senate". KKTV 11. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
5. Henry, Melissa (2025-05-07). "Overhauled transgender rights bill passes Colorado Senate, heads to Governor's desk". KKTV 11. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
6. Peterson, Nolan (2025-05-01). "Colorado Senate Passes "Kelly Loving Act" to Bolster Transgender Protections Amid Hot Debate". Hoodline. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
7. Klamann, Seth (2025-05-16). "New Colorado trans rights protections signed into law by Jared Polis". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
8. Felling, Carolynn (2025-05-20). "Lawsuit filed over Kelly Loving Act". FOX21 News Colorado. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
9. Kim, Caitlyn (2025-05-28). "Trans rights law draws second legal challenge". CPR News. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
10. Wilson, Sara (2025-05-20). "Parent groups sue Colorado officials over transgender rights expansion of anti-discrimination law". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
11. Volodzko, David (2025-05-08). "Colorado reversal on misgendering ban is a crisis averted but a danger revealed". The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
12. Deng, Grace (2025-06-04). "Clarifying claims that Colorado mandated use of a person's chosen name and pronouns". Snopes. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
13. Keith, Tony (2025-05-07). "Colorado lawmakers pass Legal Protections for Transgender Individuals bill". KOAA News5. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
14. Toomer, Lindsey (2025-05-06). "Heavily amended bill adding legal protections for transgender people passes Colorado Senate". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
15. Toomer, Lindsey (2025-05-01). "Colorado bill on transgender protections advances with stripped down provisions". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
16. Factor, Jacob (2025-04-10). "'Kelly Loving Act': Colorado lawmakers push for more transgender protections". FOX31 Denver. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
17. Toomer, Lindsey (2025-03-31). "Colorado bills would add protections for transgender people". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
18. "ERLC & Colorado Baptists oppose radical "Kelly Loving Act"". The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. 2025-04-14. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
19. Cockes, Timothy (2025-04-16). "Colorado bill would strip custody from parents who 'misgender' children". Baptist Press. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
20. Cloherty, Megan (2025-04-30). "Southern Colorado educators oppose bill expanding transgender rights". KOAA News5. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
21. Pachot, Norishka (2025-05-13). "Kelly Loving Act aims to reinforce existing transgender rights". FOX21 News Colorado. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
22. Henry, Melissa (2025-04-29). "More than 90 Colorado school leaders urge lawmakers to stop transgender rights proposal". KKTV 11. Retrieved 2025-06-28.