Certified: Colorado Anti-Trans Ballot Measures Backed by Evangelicals Who Call Trans Identity a “Plague”
Amid rising evangelical influence, Colorado’s 2026 anti-trans ballot measures—framed as “protecting kids”—may quietly rewrite LGBTQ rights statewide in ways few voters fully grasp.
Although Colorado has advanced several protections for LGBTQ residents in recent years, a coordinated ballot effort led by Protect Kids Colorado now targets transgender rights through three proposed initiatives for the November 2026 election. The campaign’s stated focus is children, but its measures would greatly constrain trans rights statewide. Initiative 110 would prohibit gender-affirming surgeries for minors, while Initiative 109 would restrict school sports participation strictly by sex assigned at birth, regardless of a student’s gender identity or medical care.
State filings show that Protect Kids Colorado has already met the signature thresholds to move these measures forward. Organizers submitted more than 165,000 signatures for Initiative 110 and over 170,000 signatures each for Initiatives 109 and 108. Initiative 108, formally framed around increasing penalties for human trafficking of minors, appears positioned to draw broader support while being promoted alongside the explicitly anti-trans proposals.
Protect Kids Colorado advances three 2026 ballot measures, bundling anti-trans initiatives with a trafficking penalty proposal
The campaign’s community mobilization has leaned heavily on conservative and religious networks. The Colorado Catholic Conference encouraged parishioners during holiday masses to sign petitions, providing a powerful distribution channel at a time of high church attendance. These efforts helped convert church infrastructure into a targeted signature-gathering operation.
Public statements by Protect Kids Colorado leadership clarify the ideological frame. Co-founder Kevin Lundberg has labeled the transgender rights movement a “plague,” language that aligns the campaign with national anti-trans rhetoric rather than neutral child welfare concerns. He and allied groups present the initiatives as protective measures, despite major medical associations’ consensus that gender-affirming care for youth, when provided under established guidelines, improves mental health outcomes.
Protect Kids Colorado previously failed to qualify similar measures, but its current strategy uses religious outreach and fears about youth safety to reframe the debate over LGBTQ rights. The 2026 vote will test whether these narratives can overcome Colorado’s recent record of expanding legal protections for transgender residents.
Profile Author / Editor / Publisher
- Dora Kay Saparow came out in a conservative Nebraskan town where she faced both misunderstanding and acceptance during her transition. Seeking specialized support, she moved to a big city, where she could access the medical, legal, and social resources necessary for her journey. Now, thirteen years later, Dora is fully transitioned, happily married, and well-integrated into society. Her story underscores the importance of time, resources, and community support, offering hope and encouragement to others pursuing their authentic selves.
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