Colorado approves ban on gender-affirming surgery for minors

A ballot measure that would ban minors from receiving gender-affirming surgery is projected to pass in Colorado, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).

The initiative, known as Proposition 135, would block physicians or other individuals from performing surgery that supports an individual’s gender identity but is at odds with their biological sex designation. Gender-affirming surgery pertains to people who identify as transgender or nonbinary who want surgery that aligns with their gender identity.

The measure passed with 51.92 percent of voters saying yes and 48.08 saying no, per DDHQ, with over 95 percent of votes counted.

The initiative would also block any kind of financial coverage, insurance or state/federal funding around gender-affirming care for minors.

The ballot measure needed a simple majority to pass.

Transgender issues, including gender-affirming surgery and whether transgender boys or men can play on traditionally girls’ or women’s sports has been a hot topic among Republicans, who have largely disagreed with allowing people who identify as transgender from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity or receiving gender-affirming surgery if they’re a minor.

Transgender issues have also bedeviled Democrats, some of whom have suggested they have concerns around fairness and equity of transgender girls and women playing in girls’ and women’s sports.