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Colorado to Vote on Controversial Transgender Rights Initiatives

3/19/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Colorado will vote in November 2026 on two ballot initiatives targeting transgender rights.
Initiative 109 would bar transgender students from participating in sports teams that do not align with their biological sex.
Initiative 110 would restrict gender-affirming surgeries for minors.
Erin Lee, an anti-LGBTQ+ activist, backs both measures.
The measures have gathered enough signatures to qualify.

History

Historical Context

The Equal Rights Amendment, passed by Congress in 1972, aimed to ensure gender equality, facing opposition from activists like Phyllis Schlafly. This historical struggle continues today as Colorado's proposed initiatives seek to limit transgender rights in sports and healthcare, echoing past conflicts and potentially polarizing public opinion on LGBTQ+ rights, reminiscent of the backlash against the ERA.

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Story summary

Colorado will vote in November 2026 on two ballot initiatives targeting transgender rights.
Initiative 109 would bar transgender students from participating in sports teams that do not align with their biological sex.
Initiative 110 would restrict gender-affirming surgeries for minors.
Erin Lee, an anti-LGBTQ+ activist, backs both measures.
The measures have gathered enough signatures to qualify.

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