Denver, CO – On Monday, the Colorado General Assembly introduced HB23-1098, “Women's Rights In Athletics” in the House of Representatives. One Colorado strongly opposes this anti-transgender bill. The bill requires all school-sponsored teams, sports, and events, including collegiate activities, to be categorized as male, female or coed, and limits participation based on a student’s sex assigned at birth. If passed, HB23-1098 will be deeply harmful to trans students and their ability to thrive by taking away the opportunity for them to participate, experience, and learn life-long skills through team sports.

“Youth and young adults learn many important life lessons in sports, including leadership, confidence, self-discipline, and what it means to be part of a team,” said Nadine Bridges, MSW (she, her, hers), One Colorado Executive Director.  “Transgender, nonbinary, and gender expansive youth and young adults play sports for the same reason others do: to gain a sense of belonging, and take care of both their physical and mental health. HB23-1098 discriminates against trans, nonbinary and gender-expansive people in Colorado. Let’s be clear: this bill is not about protecting youth or setting a fair playing ground for women to participate in sports. This bill joins the larger wave of anti-transgender legislation sweeping the nation in an attempt to gain political points by attacking our most vulnerable populations. We are appalled by any effort to harm our community instead of working to ensure all Coloradans are protected and can thrive.”

HB23-1098 Prime Sponsors include: Representative Lisa Frizell (R-Castle Rock), Representative Brandi Bradley (R-Littleton), and Senator Byron Pelton (R-Sterling). The bill is assigned to the House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee. A hearing date has not been set.