Colorado Passes Law Requiring Teachers to Use Student's Preferred Pronouns, Cuts Parents Out of the Loop

Colorado was once a great place to raise a family. I should know; I raised mine there. But while the rot started as long ago as the late '80s, it accelerated after the turn of the millennium and has now kicked into high gear. The Denver-Boulder Axis runs the state now, and the Centennial State has become East California.

In the latest example of how far Colorado has fallen, the state legislature has passed, and Governor Polis has signed, a law that compels speech on the part of schoolteachers by requiring them to use whatever pronouns a student chooses, regardless of any ethical or religious objections the teacher may have.

The new law states in part:

2-1-143. Harassment or discrimination - policy required - training and notification - definitions. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(d) (IV) HARASSMENT OR DISCRIMINATION INCLUDES THE KNOWING OR INTENTIONAL USE OF A NAME OTHER THAN A STUDENT'S CHOSEN NAME, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 22-1-145 (1).

The referenced section, 22-1-145 (1), states:

22-1-145. Use of a student's chosen name - definitions. (1) As USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES:
(a) "CHOSEN NAME" MEANS ANY NAME THAT A STUDENT REQUESTS TO BE KNOWN AS THAT DIFFERS FROM THE STUDENT'S LEGAL NAME, TO REFLECT THE STUDENT'S GENDER IDENTITY.

So, if we are to take this law at its face value if a student comes in and claims that their new chosen name is "Beeblebrox Latimore XXabraxus Nightwobbler," and that their pronouns are "dun" and "dunmore," then the teacher must adopt a grave expression and take the young lunatic seriously.

This, of course, cuts parents and parental rights out of the picture. The schools are under no obligation to even attempt to find out what the parents think of all this, never mind notify them that their child has gone off the woke deep end.

Not only that, but this law directly contradicts the First Amendment. The principle of freedom of speech also means that a citizen cannot be compelled to speak in a certain manner, but this law forces teachers and school administrators to do exactly that. There would appear to be no limits and no process to go through; a boy named "Bill" can come into school on any given day, announce that he is now a nine-spirit forest sprite whose name is Twigwiggler Babblegrape, with the pronouns "beak" and "beak-kin," and teachers must consent and tiptoe meekly away.

The Importance of Protecting Speech: Why We Have to Take the Bad With the Good

Twitter has exploded at the news; activist Harmeet K. Dhillon led the charge to condemn the new law.

This is insane! Colorado just passed a law requiring schools to use the preferred pronouns of kids without any mention whatsoever of parental rights! Parents have a paramount right to control their children’s education, says SCOTUS. Families should sue!https://t.co/WY2aiv625I
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) May 6, 2024

This law is, of course, a First Amendment lawsuit just waiting to happen. The Denver-Boulder Axis has overstepped on this one; the first sane judge who looks at this law should round-file it, with prejudice.

Here's the real baffling piece of this statute; I suppose it is legislative boilerplate, but even so:

SECTION 6. Safety clause. The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.

"Necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety"? In what loony-tunes universe is any of this necessary for any of that?

Colorado was once a great place to raise a family. Beautiful scenery, great recreational opportunities, and, upon a time, good schools.

No longer.