In a move that could make Orwell blush, the Colorado House of Representatives has decided that parents must now adhere to state-sanctioned beliefs about gender identity—or risk being labeled as child abusers. House Bill 1312, which recently passed the House, redefines "coercive control" in family law to include actions such as "misgendering" or "deadnaming" one's own child. In plain terms, if a parent refers to their son as "he" when he prefers "she," they could be accused of child abuse.
This legislative gem allows courts to consider such "coercive control" when determining parental responsibilities. So, if you're a parent in Colorado who believes in biological reality, you might want to lawyer up before calling your daughter "princess."
Not content with merely passing the bill, some Democratic representatives took the opportunity to compare parental rights groups to the Ku Klux Klan. Yes, you read that correctly. Expressing concern over your child's well-being is now akin to donning white hoods and burning crosses. State Rep. Yara Zokaie defended excluding parental rights groups from discussions about the bill by stating, "We don’t ask someone passing civil rights legislation to go ask the KKK their opinion."
Critics of the bill, including Republican state Rep. Ken DeGraaf, argue that it "prejudices the court by saying any non-affirmation of gender... is discriminatory and is coercive control." In other words, if you dare to question whether your child should undergo irreversible medical procedures, you're the bad guy.
This isn't Colorado's first foray into prioritizing progressive ideology over parental rights. The state's education system has been under fire for introducing LGBTQ history lessons starting in first grade, much to the chagrin of parents who believe that six-year-olds should perhaps focus on learning to read and write before delving into complex social issues.
Moreover, Colorado school districts have been known to assess parental awareness and support of a child's gender identity, sometimes without the parents' knowledge. Forms used by districts inquire whether parents are aware of their child's gender identity and if they support it, raising concerns about schools circumventing parental authority.
In essence, Colorado's legislative and educational bodies seem intent on ensuring that parents toe the line of progressive orthodoxy. Dare to dissent, and you might find yourself compared to a hate group or, worse, stripped of your parental rights. It's a brave new world in the Centennial State, where the government knows best, and parents are merely obstacles to be managed
