Trump administration opposes Colorado bill that seeks to remove custody from parents on the basis of “MISGENDERING”

04/27/2025 / By Ramon Tomey

The Trump administration opposes Colorado’s Kelly Loving Act, which would allow courts to strip custody from parents who refuse to use a child’s preferred pronouns or gender identity, classifying such actions as “coercive control.”
The bill has also sparked backlash from parental rights advocates, who argue it represents government overreach into family decisions.
The Department of Education condemned the bill, with a spokeswoman stating, “Children do not belong to the government,” and vowing to protect parental rights.
Critics warn the bill enforces gender ideology over parental authority, risks irreversible medical treatments for minors, and challenges conservative state laws opposing such interventions.
The Trump administration is reversing Biden-era transgender policies, including banning federal support for youth gender transitions and investigating states that hide students’ transitions from parents.

The Trump administration has voiced out its opposition to a Colorado bill that would strip custody from parents who refuse to deceive their gender-confused children, under the guise of “affirming their child’s transgender identity.”

Lawmakers in the Centennial State have advanced the Kelly Loving Act, which would classify “misgendering” or “deadnaming” a child as potential grounds for losing custody in family court disputes. The bill, named after a victim of the 2022 Club Q shooting, passed the Colorado House of Representatives on April 6 – though it has yet to pass the Colorado State Senate. (Related: Colorado Democrats advance controversial bill targeting parental rights in LGBT custody battles.)

The Kelly Loving Act nevertheless ignited a national debate over parental rights. It has drawn sharp criticism from parental rights advocates and the Trump administration, who argue it represents government overreach into family life.

Julie Hartman, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education (ED) was quick to condemn the proposal. “Children do not belong to the government. They belong to parents,” she told the Daily Signal. Hartman continued that the ED – under the leadership of Education Secretary Linda McMahon – “will not tolerate abuse of parents’ rights, or of students who are victims of predatory behavior by adults who are supposed to protect them.”

Colorado parents risk losing kids over pronouns

The legislation defines “coercive control” to include refusing to use a child’s preferred pronouns or threatening to disclose their gender-related medical treatments. Courts would be required to weigh such actions when determining custody arrangements, effectively forcing parents to comply with gender ideology or risk losing their children. Additionally, the bill seeks to block enforcement of out-of-state laws that allow child removals when parents reject so-called “gender-affirming” medical interventions – a direct challenge to conservative states that have banned such procedures for minors.

Critics argue that the Colorado bill exemplifies a broader ideological campaign that prioritizes gender activism over parental authority, scientific truth, and child welfare. Opponents cite concerns about minors undergoing irreversible medical procedures, the erosion of women’s rights in single-sex spaces, and compelled speech laws that punish dissent.

Since returning to the office, President Donald Trump has moved aggressively to reverse transgender policies put in place by his predecessor, former President Joe Biden. These include banning federal support for youth gender transitions and ordering a review of medical evidence on the risks of such interventions.

Moreover, Trump’s second administration has already taken steps to counter gender-related policies. These include freezing Title IX funding to Maine over its transgender sports policies, and launching civil rights investigations into California and Washington for allegedly hiding students’ gender transitions from parents.

The clash over the Kelly Loving Act reflects a deepening cultural divide, with progressives framing it as a safeguard for transgender youth and conservatives decrying it as state-enforced indoctrination. As the bill awaits consideration, its fate could set a precedent for how far governments may go in regulating family decisions – a question that resonates far beyond Colorado’s borders.

Visit Gender.news for more similar stories.

Watch this video about the Kolstad family of Montana, who lost custody of their daughter after refusing to “affirm” her gender identity and is now suing two state social workers involved in their case.

This video is from the Public Advocate of the US channel on Brighteon.com.