Last Tuesday, parents, teachers, medical professionals, and religious leaders gathered at a rally by Families, Not Politics to oppose Propositions 134 and 135.
Proposition 134 would designate school-based sports from kindergarten to college as either male-only, female-only, or co-ed. Schools and school districts would be required to assign students to a team that matches with their sex assigned at birth, banning transgender students from participating with their gender. The proposition would also restrict parents’ abilities to file complaints against a school or school district following this policy.
Families, Not Politics wrote in a news release: “It’s so poorly written that any girl could face an invasive gender check if she’s accused of being transgender.”
“My daughter should not be a political talking point. She is a child. She wants what every kid wants, which is to belong, feel supported, and grow up without adults turning her life into a political debate,” said Chris Cook, a parent who spoke at the rally. “At the end of the day, this is simple: families should have the freedom to care for their children. Kids deserve privacy and dignity. And politicians should stay out of our most personal decisions.”
Proposition 135 would ban surgeries for minors that “alter biological sex characteristics.” While this proposition is pushed against transgender youth, it also could create a barrier for non-transgender youth needing gender/sex-based surgeries for medical or cosmetic reasons. A medical or insurance group could see a child’s surgery as gender-based and prevent a healthcare provider from giving necessary care to a child.
Much like Proposition 134, it would take decisions from parents and doctors, opponents argue.
“Families and doctors should have the freedom to make medical decisions based on what is best for the individual patient,” said retired family physician Mary Fairbanks, who also spoke at the rally. “Politicians should not be writing vague laws that create confusion in the exam room and put necessary care at risk. The unintended consequences could extend far beyond what proponents are telling the public. As a former physician, I urge Coloradans to look closely at this measure, ask hard questions, and protect the privacy and decision-making power of families and medical professionals.”
To listen to the testimonies of those at the Families, Not Politics rally, visit this link to watch a recorded segment of it.
Header image by Meg on Unsplash.
