Colorado Bill Threatens Parental Rights by Requiring Trans Affirmation for Custody
Source: Zachary Mettler. "Bill Would Remove Kids From Parents Who Won't Trans Them." February 23, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author argues that Colorado is trying to pass a law that would let the government take kids away from parents who won't go along with their child wanting to change genders. He says this violates parents' basic rights and is happening in other states too, so it needs to be stopped before it spreads everywhere.
Conclusion
Colorado's SB 26-018 represents a dangerous government overreach that would allow the state to remove children from parents who don't affirm their child's transgender identity, violating fundamental parental rights
Premises
- SB 26-018 requires courts to consider whether parents embrace their child's 'gender identity' when determining custody, favoring parents who support transition
- The bill opens the door for child protective services to remove transgender-identified children from parents who don't affirm their identity
- Similar cases are already occurring across multiple states where children have been removed from 'non-affirming' parents without allegations of abuse or neglect
- This represents a continuation of previous Colorado legislative attempts, as they tried similar measures last year with the 'Kelly Loving Act'
- Even liberal California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed similar legislation, citing concerns about government overreach into judicial standards
- The bill's sponsor painfully removed the key provision under pressure, suggesting awareness of its problematic nature
- If enacted, this precedent could spread to other states, further eroding parental rights nationwide
Assumptions
- Parents have fundamental rights to make medical and identity-related decisions for their minor children
- Refusing to affirm a child's transgender identity does not constitute abuse or neglect
- Government intervention in family decisions should require evidence of actual harm
- Transgender medical interventions for minors are harmful and irreversible
- Biological sex is objective reality that parents have the right to acknowledge