One Colorado has released its 2024 Legislative Report, which covers the state of LGBTQ+ rights in Colorado and the nation as a whole.
One Colorado is an advocacy organization “dedicated to advancing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) Coloradans and their families.” The organization has successfully helped codify 18 pieces of pro-equality legislation into Colorado law. The organization prioritizes civic engagement and works to aid in areas like queer youth, queer health, and the education system.
One Colorado believes the nation is battling a wave of anti-trans legislation, reporting that over 617 bills were introduced across America targeting trans rights, including education, healthcare, and sports. That said, many leaders are working to further LGBTQ+ rights and fight harmful “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bills. The organization also attributes progress to organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD.
One Colorado aligns itself with many of the other pro-LGBTQ+ organizations working to benefit queer Americans. While there is still a lot of progress to be made, especially in states like Florida and Texas, Colorado has achieved a lot of significant victories.
Far-right groups have targeted LGBTQ+ rights through state bills that would ban gender-affirming care for minors, exclude trans girls from school sports, and censor LGBTQ+ topics in school settings. Another would force schools to notify and out queer children to their parents. One Colorado leads a coalition called Freedom for All Coloradoans, which successfully defeated 27 of these harmful initiatives.
The organization fought for over 30 bills and successfully got 11 of them signed into law. Some of these bills include HB23-1017, which initiates a Bill of Rights for queer children in foster care. This safeguards children’s ability to choose and express their names and preferred pronouns. Another is HB24-1039, which “requires school districts to adopt a clear policy for students to complete not-legal name changes.”
The organization says that “Colorado continues to shine as a beacon of progress and resilience in LGBTQ+ advocacy” and commits itself to supporting and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community in any way possible. You can learn more about One Colorado here.
Image Courtesy of WikiMedia Commons
