Denver (AP)— On Friday morning, the Democratic majority of the House passed two bills that may protect transgender persons’ chosen names. One would allow those who have been found guilty of a felony to change their name to reflect their gender identity, and another would require university staff to use a child’s chosen name.
The most recent of a slew of bills that have sparked a national tug-of-war have been issued across the nation. Democratic lawmakers in Idaho, Kansas, Wyoming, and Louisiana are pursuing bills in the same vein, while Democratic-controlled parliaments like those in Hawaii and New Jersey have introduced legislation related to those in Colorado.
A bill from Colorado that would allow renters to receive income payment passes the committee.
On Friday, the proposals caused a number of breaks to discuss what could and couldn’t be said in the well, as well as emotional debate and occasionally tears on the Colorado House floor. Over the course of three hours of discussion, there were wide-eyed wonder and huffs from both parties, which sparked a back-and-forth of quips and charges.
As she watched Democrats in the chamber, Democratic Rep. Brianna Titone, a transgender woman, said, “I am clearly offended by the statement and classification of transgender people with offenses against children. “I won’t stand for that,” I retorted.
Generally speaking, both bills passed the House on party lines, and they are now moving to the Senate for further discussion.
Republicans objected to the bill’s proposal to help those who have been found guilty of a crime to change their names to reflect their gender identity, contending that it would help those who have committed other crimes to conceal themselves behind a new name.
Republican Rep. Richard Holtorf said, “Thank you for helping them if they want to accomplish unlawful activities, thank you for helping them robe their identity.”
Democrats made it clear that a name change would still need to be approved by a judge and that the ability to change a person’s name has been around for centuries in marriage and adoption situations.
Rep. Jennifer Bacon, Democrats’ assistant majority leader, said, “If this was really about saying that people with crimes may not be able to change their names, and not just one group of people, we would have heard that any person who has committed a crime is trying to hide when she wants to get married.”
Chosen titles are used in Colorado’s classrooms
The second bill that was debated on Friday would require school personnel to use students’ chosen titles and establish discrimination against doing so. Democrat Rep. Jennifer Parenti described how her transgender student first began using their preferred name at college before speaking with Parenti afterward.
“I looked at them and said, ‘I’m sorry if I ever gave you the impression that this wouldn’t be okay,'” Parenti said, tears streaming down her eyes. However, “it makes sense that someone might want to try something like this out in a safe place before talking to their kids about it.”
Before fee, committee members presented proposed Colorado house tax options.
That’s the crux of the argument that the bill’s supporters are making, saying the measure specifically protects transgender children whose families may not be as accepting. Republicans’ contentions in turn were that this bill would restrict parental autonomy and parental involvement in a child’s life. The school wouldn’t need to keep parents in the dark, according to the bill.
Bedayn serves on the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative as a corps member. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on underreported topics.
