Denver advocates and city council members announced plans this week to introduce an ordinance designed to protect transgender residents from federal actions they say could place them at risk. The proposal was outlined during a rally Wednesday as organizers said the measure is nearing completion.
Despite technical issues and extreme heat, speakers at the event emphasized urgency, citing growing concern that federal agencies or other states could seek access to personal information about transgender people living in Colorado.
Proposal
The ordinance is expected to be formally introduced next month by City Councilmembers Shontel Lewis, Stacie Gilmore, and Sarah Parady. According to organizers, the measure would limit Denver’s cooperation with federal efforts that target transgender people through enforcement actions or data collection.
Z Williams of the Bread & Roses Legal Center, one of the groups pushing for the ordinance, said advocates surveyed more than 500 Coloradans about their concerns.
Williams said many respondents feared that personal data held by the state or local governments could be used to prosecute or extradite transgender people to states with more restrictive laws.
Scope
As described by its drafters, the ordinance would prohibit the city from sharing certain records or resources with the federal government if they are used to enforce policies targeting transgender individuals. It would also reduce the collection of sex and gender data in city records where such information is not legally required.
Supporters said the proposal is modeled after existing local protections Denver has adopted for immigrant communities.
Council Response
Councilmember Stacie Gilmore said Denver has become a destination for people seeking safety from restrictive laws elsewhere.
“At this time, we know that Colorado and especially Denver are safe havens for people who are being affected in serious and dangerous ways in other states,” Gilmore said.
Councilmember Shontel Lewis framed the issue as one of civil rights rather than partisan politics, arguing that transgender people face coordinated efforts to restrict their health care and public participation.
Federal Context
Advocates pointed to recent federal actions, including requests by the U.S. Department of Justice for hospitals to turn over records related to minors who received gender-affirming care.
Colorado has been directly affected. Children’s Hospital Colorado temporarily suspended youth gender-affirming care earlier this year following federal pressure. Although the Colorado Supreme Court later ruled the hospital must resume providing that care, the hospital announced its physicians were unwilling to do so, citing concerns about potential criminal liability.
Legal Perspective
Ashley Cordero, an attorney involved in drafting the ordinance, said the proposal reflects Denver’s long-standing approach to protecting vulnerable communities.
“When the federal government demonstrates its intent to target and discriminate against its own people, here in Denver, we have a history and tradition of standing up,” Cordero said.
Community Impact
Polling from the Movement Advancement Project found that in the year following the 2024 presidential election, nine percent of transgender people nationwide relocated to another state because of LGBTQ-related policies. Advocates said Colorado’s existing protections have drawn many of those individuals.
Several speakers at the rally shared personal experiences of relocating to Denver due to laws in other states affecting transgender rights, including restrictions on identification documents and bathroom access.
Next Steps
Organizers said the ordinance is still being finalized and could see amendments before it reaches the council floor. If introduced as planned, the proposal would be debated in committee before a full council vote.
The issue also comes as Colorado voters prepare to consider ballot measures this fall related to transgender participation in sports and youth gender-affirming care.
FAQs
What is the proposed Denver ordinance?
A measure to limit city cooperation with federal actions targeting trans people.
Who is introducing the ordinance?
Councilmembers Shontel Lewis, Stacie Gilmore, and Sarah Parady.
When will it be introduced?
Organizers say it will be introduced next month.
What protections would it provide?
Limits on data sharing and reduced gender documentation.
Why are advocates concerned now?
They cite recent federal actions affecting trans health care.
