Denver, CO – One Colorado, the state’s leading advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) Coloradans and their families, releases the following statement regarding anti-trans amendments introduced following the Equal Rights Amendment resolution:

One Colorado commends Colorado Senators Lisa Cutter (D-20) and Janet Buckner (D-29), and Representatives Meg Froelich (D-3) and Regina English (D-17) for bringing an affirming Equal Rights Amendment resolution forward to the 74th General Assembly on Wednesday, March 1st, 2023 – on the 100th anniversary of the originally proposed amendment. Watch Senator Cutter introduce the ERA resolution.  One Colorado denounces the four attempts by Reps. Stephanie Luck (R-60), Ken DeGraaf (R-22), Scott Bottoms (R-15), Brandi Bradley (R-39) to amend the ERA resolution by perpetuating false narratives that use the veil of “equal rights” to justify discrimination and transphobia, which contributes to the disparaging rhetoric that has distinct and harmful impacts on the trans community. All four amendments failed. View the amendments and the house voting records. One Colorado stands in solidarity with Rep. Brianna Titone (D-27), who addressed her colleagues in the Colorado House of Representatives in response to the aforementioned events - calling into question the anti-trans rhetoric and dangerous sentiments included in the amendments. Watch a segment of Rep. Titone’s remarks.

“One Colorado stands with Representative Titone and all transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive people. Certain elected officials must understand that their role is to serve all Coloradans, not just the ones who support their personal ideologies and in this case, narrow definitions of gender. Representing everyone in their district means not singling out, dehumanizing, and invalidating the existence of transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive people. Instead of using their platforms to question why the ERA has not passed, these same officials chose to spread misinformation, stoking fears and division against trans folks. Conflating gender equity to the protection of cisgender women is harmful and misses the point. It is time for all Colorado’s elected officials to focus on the issues that matter most to Coloradans – affordable housing, clean water, the climate crisis, food access, and gun violence – and stop spreading anti-trans narratives for political gain.” – Nadine Bridges, MSW (she/her), One Colorado Executive Director“Trans people are simply claiming our inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But how can we have that, when what you say tries to take that away from us? Today I’m standing up for myself and people like me. For kids who are like me, for your constituents who are like me - who you refuse to acknowledge. I would like to see ways we can disagree without being disrespectful. I would like to see us be able to disagree with each other and look each other in the eyes when we say these things. If we can acknowledge the pain we cause each other by ignoring it, we shouldn’t be saying the things we’re saying. I sat in my chair, listening and looking at colleagues in the eyes as they said dismissive, demeaning things to me, which felt like a very long time, but I got no eye contact back.  Why? Can you disagree with my existence in my presence and not look me in the eye? By the way - my existence is not up for debate. It’s not something you can disagree away. And I will not let anyone in this chamber or outside this chamber bully or intimidate me out of my existence. Not today and not ever!” – Rep. Brianna Titone (she/her), HD-27 – Majority Caucus Co-Chair and Chair of LGBTQ+ Caucus“Incidents of violence, along with suicide and depression have increased dramatically.  I want all of our young women, trans, and LGBTQ youth, to grow up knowing their rights are protected and they have value as human beings part of this society. It’s time to get this done.” – Sen. Lisa Cutter (she/her), SD-20“Equal rights is not just for women of color. It’s not just about race. Equal rights is for all women… I want every woman to realize how important they are. We must stand together.” – Sen. Janet Buckner (she/her), SD-29 – Majority Caucus Chair

About the Equal Rights Amendment

The ERA states:

Section 1: Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.Section 2: The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.Section 3: This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

Timeline:

• 1923: The Equal Rights Amendment was drafted and proposed by Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman, just three years after the 19th Amendment was ratified.
• 1923-1971: The ERA is introduced by lawmakers into every session of Congress but makes little progress.
• 1972: The ERA passes both chambers of Congress with bipartisan support. Congress sends the amendment to the states for ratification. Colorado ratifies the ERA on April 21, 1972.
• 1973: 30 states ratify the ERA. The STOP ERA opposition campaign argues against the amendment and gains momentum.
• 1977: 35 states ratify the ERA. Five states — Nebraska, Tennessee, Idaho, Kentucky, and South Dakota — vote to rescind their earlier support.
• 2017: Nevada becomes the first state to ratify the ERA in four decades.
• 2018: Illinois ratifies the ERA, becoming the 37th state.
• 2020: Virginia ratifies the ERA, becoming the 38th state.
• 2023: The ERA is in Congress today – SJR4 / HJR25. In January, Congress passed joint resolutions affirming the validity of the ERA and removing the time limit. Nearly 80% of Americans support the ERA (according to a Pew Research poll).

Learn more and take action:

• Check out the ERA Coalition’s work
• Sign their petition to pass the amendment this session