2026 Questionnaire Answers from Endorsed State Senate and State House Candidates

RMEQ Action Fund
3 hours ago
82 min read

RMEQ AF has endorsed candidates running in the 2026 democratic general election on November 3 and invited them to complete a questionnaire to share their positions on issues important to our community.

Read the responses for the candidates we endorsed below.

State Senate Candidates

You can use this tool to find which House District and Senate District you live in.

SD15: Janice Marchman

State agencies collect sensitive personal data related to health care, education, identity documents, and social services. What steps should Colorado take to ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal administration, or any other entity, and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ people or other at-risk communities? How would you use legislative authority to strengthen privacy protections and oversight?

Colorado must treat sensitive personal data as a safety issue. State agencies should not be allowed to share sensitive data with the federal government or outside entities unless required by a valid court order. We should also require data minimization, purpose limitation, limited retention, audit trails, and regular legislative oversight of interagency or federal data requests.

This has already been a priority in my work. As chair of the Joint Technology Committee, I led the Office of Information Technology oversight hearings and reviewed in depth where state IT systems have failed. That work led me to author and pass SB26-185, which strengthens Colorado’s state IT security infrastructure.

I also requested a late bill to prevent Colorado’s DMV from sharing data with the federal Selective Service System for undocumented license holders and to prohibit the federal government from using Colorado’s self-attested gender identity field as a proxy for draft registration eligibility. Although that bill was denied by Senate leadership, the issue remains urgent.

In 2027, my priority bill will be a broader digital privacy framework to protect all Coloradans, especially LGBTQ+ people and other communities at risk of being targeted through data exposure.

Do you support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare? What gaps in current state law or enforcement require urgent legislative action?

Yes. No Coloradan should lose a job, be denied housing, be turned away from care, or be excluded from public life because of who they are. I am proud to have helped build on Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections, including my work to codify Title IX protections in K-12 schools during my first session and my work this year on SB26-125, Student Civil Rights, which reflects my commitment to enforceable rights in Colorado schools.

Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act is strong, but rights only matter if people can enforce them. One of the most urgent gaps is underfunded enforcement. The Colorado Civil Rights Division needs the resources to investigate complaints quickly, because months-long timelines are not workable for families facing discrimination at work, at school, in housing, or while seeking care.

We also need to write stronger health care nondiscrimination protections into state law so LGBTQ+ Coloradans are not dependent on the priorities of any federal administration. This year’s School Finance Act closed loopholes that allowed public school dollars to flow to programs that could discriminate against employees and students. We should continue that work by closing any remaining loopholes that allow landlords, employers, schools, or providers to discriminate against Coloradans.

Colorado law currently protects access to evidence-based gender-affirming care. How would you defend these protections against federal pressure, court challenges, or attempts to restrict care through state legislation, regulation, or funding decisions?

I would continue to defend Colorado’s protections for evidence-based gender-affirming care through our laws and our budget. A state budget is a moral document. It shows what the legislature and executive branch truly value, and we cannot allow budget decisions to become a way to restrict gender-affirming care.

This year, I worked on SB26-125 to ensure students and families with 504s in K-12 schools have an avenue to seek accommodations when those accommodations are not provided. The debate over the relatively small amount of funding needed to enforce this bill showed how easily rights can become theoretical if we are not willing to fund enforcement.

Just this month, the Colorado Supreme Court found that Children’s Hospital violated CADA when it suspended gender-affirming care for transgender youth while continuing the same treatments for cisgender youth. Federal coercion does not excuse CADA violations, and I would support codifying that into state law.

I was proud to support Colorado’s 2023 shield law and would fight any attempt to weaken it. Colorado has become a safe place for many families with transgender children, and state law must continue to protect their ability to access safe, lawful, evidence-based care.

Colorado schools play a critical role in student safety, belonging, and well-being. How would you ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrants, students with disabilities, and those facing religious or political hostility? What role should state law, funding, and oversight play?

Every student should be able to walk into school knowing they are safe, respected, and able to learn. I would strengthen student civil rights protections, fund enforcement, and use state oversight when districts fail to protect students. A student’s safety should not depend on their zip code, local politics, or whether their district chooses to do the right thing.

State law must clearly protect students from harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and exclusion. It should require districts to have real response plans, respect students’ identities, provide disability accommodations, and ensure public dollars are not used to support programs that discriminate. Funding matters because rights are only meaningful if students and families can access remedies, which means we need to fund the Colorado Civil Rights Division.

This has been a priority throughout my time in the legislature. In my first session, I ran SB23-296, which codified Title IX protections, lowered the bar for harassment by removing the “severe or pervasive” requirement, and required every district to have a response plan. I sponsored HB24-1039 to ensure students are called by their chosen names, ran SB26-125 to strengthen protections for students with disabilities, and worked to limit book banning.

How would you anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science, particularly when facing ideological or political pressure?

Colorado is often a testing ground for efforts to erode the rights of LGBTQ+ people and limit access to vital healthcare services. How would you respond to claims for religious exemptions that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state-funded services, programs, or protections?

I would anchor laws, regulations, and funding decisions in evidence, medical expertise, and the lived realities of the people affected. Science is both foundational and dynamic. As an engineer, I rely on the scientific method to problem solve: looking at cause and effect, analyzing trends, reviewing sources, and adjusting when the evidence requires it.

That is how I approach policy. I oppose efforts to override medical knowledge or social science with ideological definitions in health care, education, or social services. When decisions affect LGBTQ+ Coloradans, especially transgender people, the state should rely on credible medical standards, peer-reviewed research, data from agencies and providers, and testimony from impacted communities.

I often say “data is my love language,” and I mean it. I would rather see trends, data, and implementation plans than slogans or political talking points. Policy must be based in fact, not ideology.

When bills or amendments misrepresent scientific consensus, I call that out in committee and on the floor. I would continue using that same approach to defend evidence-based care, inclusive schools, and funding decisions that reflect what actually keeps LGBTQ+ Coloradans safe, healthy, and supported.

If elected, how would you meaningfully engage LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations in your district or elsewhere in the state to inform your legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities?

Meaningful engagement starts with relationships before legislation is drafted or votes are taken. LGBTQ+ people are part of every community in my district, and they deserve to be heard directly, not treated as an abstract constituency.

I have deep relationships in Larimer County with organizations and leaders who have been working on LGBTQ+ equality, education, and community safety for a decade or longer. I rely on conversations with advocates, school district leaders, LGBTQ+-friendly businesses, and community members to understand what people are experiencing and how state policy can better respond.

I also attend Pride events in my district whenever I can. Pride is joyful, but it is also one of the places where people speak most honestly about what is working, what is not, and where they still feel unsafe or unsupported. Some of the most direct and unfiltered conversations I have had about policy have happened at community Pride celebrations.

At the Capitol, I would continue engaging LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, lobbyists, providers, educators, students, and families before making decisions that affect their lives.

SD17: Katie Wallace

Colorado should act fiercely to protect personal data and refuse to provide this data to the federal government when it is demanded. Though this can be complex, given the amount of collaboration traditional of the federal and state agencies, we have seen through previous restrictions that it is possible. I would support legislation that prevents data transfers to the federal government from state agencies and that strengthen privacy protections around this data. As one example of how this can work, in HB1113 - this year's elections legislation I helped lead - we restricted the sharing of voters' data with the federal government who were demanding it to create federal voter rolls. Similar efforts can and should be undertaken to protect immigrant communities (as we saw in SB25-276 and SB21-131), LGBTQ people, and others vulnerable to attacks from the federal administration.

Yes, I strongly support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in these various areas. Every Coloradan deserves the freedom to live, work, learn, and access government services without fear of discrimination or exclusion. We know the devastating, negative impacts when that is not the case.

Colorado has made important progress to this end. Going forward, we should strengthen CADA enforcement mechanisms so that civil rights protections are meaningful not just on paper, but in practice. Too many people facing discrimination encounter lengthy complaint processes, limited access to legal support, and inconsistent outcomes. The state should prioritize in faster investigations and stronger accountability for repeat violators.

I also support reinforcing protections for transgender and nonbinary Coloradans, particularly in healthcare and schools, as we see attacks on gender affirming care and trans youth in sports. These too are critical accommodations, sometimes through public intuitions, to which we must ensure fair access.

Colorado should continue leading with the principle that equality under the law is nonnegotiable. Whether through strengthening CADA or other anti-discrimination statutes, protecting LGBTQ+ people from discrimination is fundamental to building safe, healthy, and thriving communities for each of us.

I was proud to support HB25-1309, protecting access to gender affirming care during my first legislative session. Though before my time, I am also supportive of our shield laws that ensure patients and providers from out-of-state have protections to legally provide gender-affirming care.

While we know the federal courts have persistently attacked these types of protections, Colorado courts have been a glimmer of hope for ensuring continued access. I support Medicaid coverage of gender-affirming services and - as possible in the limited budget - specific set-asides for these services, further codification of the right to access them for adults and youth (if needed), and robust oversight of state agencies to ensure coverage, access, and protections for those seeking gender-affirming services.

I agree our schools' climates are essential to ensuring students feel safe, respected, and supported, which ultimately impacts their long term success. Students deserve safety regardless of their identity, background, disability, or religion. Colorado’s schools should be places where all students can learn free from bullying, discrimination, or fear.

State law plays an essential role in establishing clear, enforceable protections for students, including protections against discrimination based on protected classes. We must ensure schools have strong anti-bullying policies, inclusive nondiscrimination standards that are enforced by administrations, and fair disciplinary practices that do not disproportionately harm marginalized students.

Funding is equally important. Schools need resources for mental health support, counselors, special education services, language access programs, and staff training on inclusion, de-escalation, and cultural competency. Safe and supportive schools require investment. Too frequently in Colorado that investment is determined by zip code, so the state legislature must ensure better access for all students.

The state should also ensure transparency, accountability, and consistent enforcement of civil rights protections while partnering with educators, families, and local communities to address concerns constructively.

By doing so. The science on everything from the benefits of familial & social acceptance, to positive outcomes of gender-affirming care, to the negative impacts of conversion therapy, and countless other issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community could not be clearer. We must legislate from this place of science that centers the voices of those impacted, and no other.

The pressures you mentioned aren't my politics or my ideologies, nor do they reflect those of my community. I am very proud of that and will continued to lead from that place.

Religious beliefs should not be used to deny other people equal access to services, healthcare, housing, education, or legal protections, particularly those utilizing tax payer dollars.

When organizations or providers accept public funding or serve the public, they have a responsibility to follow Colorado’s nondiscrimination laws and treat all people fairly, including LGBTQ+ Coloradans. Allowing broad religious exemptions that permit discrimination undermines civil rights protections and creates real harm for people seeking essential services and care. Religious exemptions have been used to discriminatory ends in the past just as we are seeing them used now. I don't want to repeat this shameful history.

Colorado should continue protecting equal protection under the law by ensuring that personal beliefs do not become a basis for denying someone healthcare, safety, dignity, or participation in public life. We can respect religious diversity while still maintaining clear standards that prevent discrimination.

Every Coloradan deserves to know they will be treated with fairness and respect, regardless of who they are or whom they love.

I collaborated with LGTBQ+ groups to bring SB26-18 this year which protects youth name change records and - in its original form - would have ensured family courts could consider parental recognition of protected classes when making determinations. I was grateful to RME for their support of this bill, as well as - in the end - One Colorado's and Bread & Roses'. This collaboration taught me the benefits of patience and continued conversations in policy efforts, as better policy was made through the work of bringing each of us along.

I will continue to prioritize consistent, direct engagement with LGBTQ+ individuals, advocates, and community-based organizations like RME to ensure their experiences and concerns inform my legislative work. I also think it is important to show up in community, including at our local Pride fests and drag events.

SD34: Chela Garcia Irlando

Colorado should not be sharing most data we collect with any other entity. In recent years, we’ve seen the danger and damage from sharing data related to our immigrant community. Despite the protections that already exists, the governor has shared immigration data with the federal government. I am vehemently opposed to sharing any information that could be used to target individuals or communities. I support stricter regulations on data collection, retention, and sharing to protect the healthcare decisions, privacy, and safety of all people, especially patients seeking reproductive and gender-affirming care. I will support legislation to keep Coloradans’ data in safe and private.

Yes. I support strict regulations on data collection, retention, and sharing to protect patients seeking abortion and gender-affirming care from digital surveillance. I support limiting the use of automated license plate readers, location tracking, and data that period tracking apps can store or share, that could be weaponized to criminalize healthcare decisions. I support clinic safety legislation to protect patients and providers from harassment, ensuring everyone can access care without intimidation.

I support ensuring equitable voting access by opposing any voter suppression efforts aimed at making our democratic processes less accessible to women and LGBTQ+ Coloradans. I support upholding the separation of church and state in our laws to protect women and LGBTQ+ individuals from religious exemptions that permit discrimination in healthcare, public services, and the workplace. I support strengthening enforcement of anti-discrimination laws to guarantee that the rights and absolute dignity of every person in Colorado are unconditionally protected. I support strengthening policies to close the gender pay gap and pay inequality.

At the state level, I will be a fierce protector of the right to gender-affirming care. As a mom, I believe my kids should have the right, and the protections, to grow up to be whoever they are.

I support expanding protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, including proactive shield laws to protect gender-affirming care and closing any legal loopholes that allow federal prosecution or out-of-state investigations into healthcare decisions made in Colorado. I support ensuring that gender-affirming care and other self-determining medical decisions remain completely free from legislative interference. I support defending the civil rights, safety, and dignity of LGBTQ youth, including strengthening anti-harassment and anti-discrimination laws, and civil actions for conversion therapy survivors. I support strict enforcement and accountability for employers, landlords, public servants, and other actors who violate anti-discrimination laws or deny LGBTQ+ Coloradans their fundamental civil rights.

In 2022, as the former Executive Director of the Colorado Democratic Latino Caucus, I helped launch and lead the 1192 Coalition, bringing together the Latino, Black, and LGBTQ Caucuses as well as community advocates to ensure compliance with HB19-1192, fighting back against Republican attempts to disregard the commission’s recommendations and aimed to remove critical histories of marginalized communities in the state education standards in history and civil government. This coalition was successful in ensuring the SBoE moved forward with the commission’s recommendations.

Public schools must, by law, be inclusive and I'll support legislation to ensure they continue to be, just as I have fought for inclusive and representative education in the past.

I also oppose public dollars going to private or quasi-private institutions that could potentially discriminate and support a legal requirement that any school (public, charter, private, etc) that receives a single dollar of public money be inclusive and not discriminatory towards the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, students with disabilities, etc. As a parent of school-aged kids, I will fight to ensure our schools are inclusive - I want to make sure my kids are educated in a system that supports diversity and encourages students to be who they are.

I support ensuring our Attorney General’s office has the resources they need to fight the federal government’s attacks on LGBTQ+ Coloradans, and work to ensure the legislature can create bills to blunt attempts to discriminate by ballot measure, for which there are many. I support legislation such as HB26-1322, which establishes the ability for conversion therapy survivors to bring civil actions. As with any ideological or political pressure, I align my work and will legislate in partnership with the leaders and communities directly impacted by the decisions at hand.

If an entity receives public money, they should not be able to claim exemptions from laws that allow them to discriminate. If a healthcare facility or others do not comply with anti-discrimination laws and provide gender affirming care, abortion services, etc due to their ideological views, they should not receive public funds. I support legislation and regulations that strengthen compliance mechanisms and expand access to services, not restrict or erode access.

I always operate on the basis of building relationships and trust with people and communities. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with LGBTQ+ leaders and communities both in my district and in Colorado prior to taking office and continuously throughout my tenure to ensure I understand priorities and pressing issues on an ongoing basis.

In leading up to specific legislative sessions, conversations about legislation need to begin in the summer and fall, long before session begins. While important stakeholdering does happen during the session, it’s too busy of a time to be starting conversations then. My goal is to meet with organizations and leaders before the session starts, so that when things need to move quickly during session everyone with an interest in legislation is already familiar and can engage meaningfully.

State House Candidates

You can use this tool to find which House District and Senate District you live in.

HD3: Gena Ozols

We need to ensure firewalls between our state data and federal data, particularly to hostile agencies such as ICE or unfortunately, apparently DHS. We should work with the Attorney Generals office to ensure this separation stays intact and the Governors office to know it won't be threatened or undercut. We also need to be proactive in not passing legislation that degrades these protections, such as parental notification or consent laws, our voter/election data and how AI is being regulated. We should also be aware of how this tech is being used in schools and what data is coming from that, so that private corporations which could share this data don't have access to our kids or the clearance to share it. I would run and support bills that allow parents to opt out of their kids engaging with AI tools in schools, as we know people often share personal data with these bots and kids aren't able to consent properly. We also need to protect our data from other states like Texas, which could track women coming her for abortion care to prosecute them.

Yes I support this. I think the most urgent thing to do will be to defeat the two ballot measures currently being pushed forward and to then file legislation next year to establish further protections against conversion therapy and protections for trans kids in schools.

I believe in accessible gender affirming care and acknowledge that our hospitals are under threat due to providing this care. I think as a state, we need to continue to support the providers who are standing behind their patients and ensuring that we don't rollback any state funding to their programs, and if possible to expand that funding so they are able to help the patients other facilities are not helping due to the threats.

Protect the providers still doing this, try to get those providers (like PPRM) more resources to fill the gap, do our best to support the facilities that want to provide it and impose limitations and regulations on facilities that pretend to be healthcare providers, but who are picking and choosing which people to provide services to based on political/religious ideology.

In my previous work helping to establish clear and inclusive standards for comprehensive sex ed in Colorado, I learned a lot about how public schools operate. I hold very firmly to the idea that public schools should serve their public, meaning they should be safe and inclusive spaces for every member of a community. Schools that do not meet that requirement or could not pass an audit of their processes, should not receive state funding, period. I know this is not a particularly nuanced or possibly popular position, but the fact of the matter is that the state gets to make funding decisions. I find it abhorrent that we would continue funding entities which allow for bullying or hostility towards students.

As an abortion rights advocate I have long since not been influenced by ideological or political forces that push anything anti-science. So I'll be honest I don't know what else we could anchor our state laws and policies in other than science and medical based evidence.

All requests for religious exemptions on anything are a non-starter for me. Religious institutions should be entirely privately funded and still subject to state regulation particularly if they are medical or service providers, period.

As a proud queer woman I would start with engaging my friends and personal networks in conversations about their lives and needs to help generate needed ideas, and I would meet with statewide and local organizations that serve these communities as primary stakeholders in any of this work. I would hold town halls in queer friendly spaces (currently my campaign has exclusively used queer friendly spaces for our events) and to meet with queer leaders and parents of LGBTQ kids. I would also work with local education associations and school districts to figure out how to best protect our queer students and to get their take as stakeholders as well.

HD9: Monica VanBuskirk

I am so glad this is an issue that RMEQ is focused on. As the Chief Policy Officer for Connect for Health, a private entity that collected personal data including health and tax information, I know what goes into a robust data security infrastructure. I have completed data privacy and systems security coursework specifically because I believe legislators need to understand the technology they are regulating.

Given how data is being weaponized against marginalized groups including our LGBTQ+ community, I would support legislation limiting the types of data necessary to collect, increasing data safeguards for state agencies including data destruction and to prohibit sharing sensitive data with federal agencies without a valid court order.

Yes, fully. LGBTQ people deserve the same protections in every part of life, and I will fight to maintain and strengthen Colorado's nondiscrimination laws in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare.

The most urgent gaps are in enforcement. Rights on paper mean nothing if people do not know how to use them or cannot afford to pursue them. I would support strengthening our Civil Rights Division and streamlining complaint processes because I have seen what happens when protections exist without enforcement. Finally, we have a gap in protections for LGBTQ+ staff and teachers in our schools, to be protected against parents. As someone who experienced discrimination from parents when I was a teacher, I know this is an area lacking regulation.

I will show up for our communities most at risk, and work with LGBTQ+ advocates who have the on-the-ground knowledge I need to get the details right.

Gender-affirming care is healthcare. It is evidence-based, it is life-saving, and it is not a bargaining chip. I will fight for our families to have access to this care as a champion, not just a supporter.

I would oppose any attempt to restrict care through state legislation, regulatory changes, or funding decisions. I have wholeheartedly endorsed the campaign Families not Politics, to oppose ballot initiatives 109, and 110, which are direct attacks on trans youth and their families.

I also speak from community, not just policy. My partner and I have been leaders in women's rugby for years. I have organized against transphobic parents on my child's soccer team. I am a fierce trans ally because I have walked alongside trans community members in real life, and I will govern like it.

The most urgent school safety issue right now is not infrastructure. It is fear. Immigrant families are keeping kids home. LGBTQ students are told they don’t belong. Teachers are afraid to do their jobs. I am part of a parent organizing effort that trains families to show up as allies for immigrant families and teachers at my daughter’s school. And while we are doing what he can to organize locally, as a legislator, I can bring that to the state level.

I would follow the lead of the two Latine DPS school board members who have endorsed me: DJ Torres and Xochitl Gaytan, both of whom are experts on racial inequity in education. This includes joining their work to ban ICE on school property. And to fund a curriculum that reflects the full diversity of our communities, oppose outing policies, and school-based mental health supports. Schools should be places every child feels they belong. That requires policy, funding, and leadership that says it clearly.

I pursued an MBA in health sector management specifically to understand how healthcare systems work and how to use financial and clinical data to advocate effectively. I build my own models. I read the research. When ideological pressure conflicts with evidence, I will bring the evidence and explain why publicly.

And for what it’s worth, I would support requiring state health agencies to ground their policies in peer-reviewed medical consensus, and I would oppose any attempt to classify evidence-based gender-affirming care as experimental or elective for purposes of coverage or funding decisions. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and decades of research are not a political opinion.

Religious freedom is a real and important right. It does not include the right to use public funding to discriminate against LGBTQ people.

State-funded services, programs, and protections exist to serve all Coloradans. When an entity accepts public dollars, it accepts the obligation to serve the public without discrimination. I would oppose any religious exemption claim that seeks to use state funding as cover for denying LGBTQ people access to services they are entitled to, including access to faith-based childcare.

I grew up a Catholic missionary and as an adult, I joined Dignity, an LGBTQ-affirming Catholic community. My faith and my commitment to LGBTQ equality are not in conflict. I say this because I want to be clear that this is not an anti-religion position. It is a position about the appropriate limits of religious exemptions in publicly funded contexts. The state should not be a vehicle for one group's religious beliefs to override another community's civil rights.

I am queer, and community engagement is not something I will do from a distance. I will continue regular conversations with One Colorado, participate in the Stonewall Democrats, Victory Institute (I am a Victory Fund endorsed candidate), and community organizations with the on-the-ground expertise I need to legislate well. I have regular relationships with their leaders now and will maintain them as a legislator.

To me, that looks like calling someone before a vote, not after. Especially on tricky health care bills where anti-LGBTQ+ provisions can slide in under the radar. It means following the lead of people with lived expertise by stakeholdering during the off season, not just inviting testimony at a committee. It means showing up at community events, pride celebrations, and memorial services when there is no vote pending, because that’s how we build community. I have been active in LGBTQ+ for years (including in rugby), so I’m not starting from scratch.

HD10: Junie Joseph

As a legislator, I strongly support LGBTQ+ equality and protecting the privacy, dignity, and civil rights of all Coloradans. Last year, I passed legislation requiring stronger protections for personal data collected through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), because people should be able to access essential services without fear their information will be misused or exposed.

Colorado should continue strengthening privacy protections by limiting unnecessary data collection, restricting data sharing absent a court order or clear legal requirement, and requiring strong cybersecurity standards for agencies handling sensitive records. I also support stronger safeguards around healthcare and identity document information, particularly for transgender individuals seeking gender marker changes or gender-affirming care.

There must be meaningful accountability when sensitive data is improperly accessed, disclosed, or weaponized against vulnerable communities. As a legislator, I will continue supporting policies that protect privacy, civil liberties, and the right of every person to live safely and authentically in Colorado.

Yes. I strongly support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare. Every person deserves to live safely and authentically without fear of discrimination.

While Colorado has made important progress, there are still areas that require additional legislative attention. One issue I have worked on directly is protections against discrimination based on pronoun usage and gender identity in the workplace. I previously worked on legislation that would have required employers to respect an employee’s pronouns and created a cause of action for discrimination related to repeated intentional misuse. That bill ultimately did not move forward because additional stakeholder work was needed, but I continue to believe these conversations are important and necessary.

I also believe Colorado should continue strengthening enforcement of existing civil rights laws, protecting LGBTQ+ youth in schools and foster care settings, safeguarding healthcare access, and ensuring sensitive personal data cannot be weaponized against vulnerable communities.

As a legislator, I will continue supporting policies that center dignity, safety, equal opportunity, and civil rights for all Coloradans.

Colorado has taken important steps to protect access to evidence-based gender-affirming care, and I strongly support continuing those protections. I was proud to pass SB29, legislation protecting doctors and healthcare practitioners who provide gender-affirming care from out-of-state attempts to investigate or prosecute them for providing lawful healthcare in Colorado.

I believe healthcare decisions should remain between patients, families, and medical professionals, not politicians. As attacks on LGBTQ+ rights increase nationally, Colorado must continue standing firmly in support of bodily autonomy, privacy, and access to medically necessary care.

As a legislator, I would oppose efforts to restrict gender-affirming care through state legislation, funding decisions, or administrative barriers. I would also support strengthening legal protections for patients, providers, and families seeking care in Colorado, while ensuring strong data privacy protections so sensitive medical information cannot be misused.

I also believe Colorado should continue working closely with healthcare providers, civil rights organizations, and impacted communities to ensure our laws remain responsive to evolving legal challenges and federal pressure. Colorado should continue to be a state where LGBTQ+ individuals can live safely, access healthcare with dignity, and receive evidence-based medical care free from political interference.

As a legislator, I believe every child deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported at school regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, immigration status, disability, religion, or background. Public schools should be places where students can learn without fear of bullying, discrimination, or political attacks.

State law plays an important role in setting clear protections and expectations. I support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws, ensuring schools have inclusive policies, and protecting access to mental health support, affirming environments, and culturally competent education. Schools must also have clear procedures to address harassment and bullying quickly and effectively.

Funding matters as well. We must ensure schools have adequate counselors, social workers, language access services, special education resources, and training for educators so they can support diverse student populations. I also support investments in restorative practices and trauma-informed approaches that help students feel connected and safe.

Oversight is equally important. The state should ensure that civil rights protections are being enforced consistently across districts and that families have meaningful avenues to report discrimination or exclusionary treatment.

I will continue working to ensure Colorado schools remain welcoming, inclusive, and safe for every student.

As a legislator, I believe laws and public policy should be grounded in evidence, expertise, and the lived realities of the people affected not political rhetoric or misinformation. Decisions impacting LGBTQ+ people, particularly around healthcare, education, and civil rights, should be informed by established medical standards, peer-reviewed research, and the guidance of licensed professional organizations.

In Colorado, I have supported policies rooted in evidence-based care, including passing SB29, which protects providers who offer gender-affirming healthcare from out-of-state attempts to punish or criminalize that care. Major medical organizations recognize gender-affirming care as evidence-based and medically necessary for many patients, and policymakers should respect the expertise of healthcare professionals rather than substitute political ideology for medical judgment.

I also believe legislative processes should include meaningful engagement with doctors, mental health professionals, educators, researchers, civil rights advocates, parents, and impacted communities. Good policymaking requires listening to experts and understanding the real-world consequences laws have on people’s safety, health, and dignity.

When political pressure conflicts with established science or civil rights protections, I will continue to support policies that prioritize evidence, public health, individual freedom, and equal protection under the law.

I strongly support religious freedom, but I do not believe religion should be used as a basis to deny people equal access to public services, healthcare, housing, education, or protections under the law. When organizations or entities receive public funding or participate in state programs, they have a responsibility to serve the public fairly and without discrimination.

Colorado has worked hard to build strong civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ people, and I believe those protections must be upheld consistently. Claims for religious exemptions should not become a loophole that allows discrimination or the denial of medically necessary care, particularly for vulnerable communities who already face barriers to services and support.

As a legislator, I believe we must carefully balance constitutional protections for religious exercise with the state’s compelling interest in preventing discrimination and ensuring equal access to services. Courts have long recognized that religious freedom is a fundamental right, but it does not give individuals or institutions blanket authority to harm others or deny equal treatment in publicly funded spaces.

I would continue supporting policies that protect LGBTQ+ Coloradans from discrimination while ensuring state agencies, contractors, healthcare systems, and publicly funded programs operate in compliance with Colorado civil rights laws.

As the incumbent, I have been proud to strongly support LGBTQ+ community members and to work alongside advocates, healthcare providers, educators, and civil rights organizations to advance equality and protect fundamental rights in Colorado.

I believe meaningful engagement starts with building authentic relationships and maintaining open communication with LGBTQ+ individuals and community-based organizations throughout the year, not only during legislative session. In my work at the legislature, I regularly meet with stakeholders, advocacy groups, and impacted communities to help inform my legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities.

I have supported and passed legislation protecting LGBTQ+ Coloradans, including SB29, which protects providers offering gender-affirming care from out-of-state attempts to criminalize or punish that care. I have also worked on broader issues involving privacy protections, healthcare access, anti-discrimination efforts, and educational opportunity.

As an elected official, I believe it is important that impacted communities have a seat at the table early in the policymaking process. I remain committed to listening, collaborating, and ensuring LGBTQ+ Coloradans are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect under Colorado law.

HD11: Karen McCormick

We as a state, should guarantee that our data systems are secure and accessible only as metadata to help guide state policies that help Coloradans. We must prevent all sharing of information with federal entities, especially individual identifying information. We can use our authority to strengthen security, to protect data, and to have meaningful enforcement of state law.

I one hundred percent of the time support nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in all aspects of living in Colorado. I am concerned about the ability to access gender affirming care and the pressure that the federal government is putting on our hospitals and clinics who has historically offered this care and are pulling back due to threats of losing funding. We may have to find ways to support these hospitals and clinics, even while in a dire budgetary situation, to keep access to this life saving care available to Colorado kids and adults. I am also concerned about the continual attacks on the trans community, especially kids, in sports and schools. I feel that there may be things we can do to strengthen protections for kids. We also have to make sure that AI systems are not algorithmically making decisions and discriminating against LGBTQ+ people in accessing housing, jobs, education and healthcare.

I touched on this above though being on the Health and Human Services committee for the past 5 years, time and time again I have seen bills come forward that seek to strip basic human rights and protections from people in our state. I defend Coloradans by vehemently speaking out and voting no on these hurtful policies. Elections matter and it is critical that we maintain a majority of people who will strongly and without hesitation defend trans peoples rights to life saving health care. People need to understand that gender affirming care IS literally life saving health care.

We must continue to speak up for the institution and importance of PUBLIC schools and how every student must be supported in a way that allows them to thrive. Fighting for school funding matters, fighting to make sure public school funding does not slip into private school funding. Keeping the DEI conversation going, because it is important. State law, funding and oversight protections should reflect our values in this area.

"Religious exemptions" is to me a guise for being able to hide hate behind a veil. I don't buy it. They can keep testing us on this and I will keep fighting back. Again, this is why elections matter and how critically important it is to make sure that the people we elect are willing to go to bat for the LGBTQ+ community. Even Democrats who may hesitate in this area should be held accountable. The LGBTQ+ community is a small percentage of the population and to be targeted like they are is unacceptable and should be to any compassionate human.

I am in direct communication with your organization as much as possible. As well as individuals in my community and with ONE Colorado. This is a policy area near and dear to my heart and soul as I shared above about my own kid, and is one of the primary reasons I ran for office in the first place. I am here for you because you have been there for my kid and others in our state and I thank you!

HD12: Kyle Brown

Much like we prohibit local law enforcement from working with ICE, I support efforts to prevent state agencies from disclosing sensitive personal information to the federal administration. When they go to the doctor or seek help from a state agency folks need to know they can rely on those interactions to keep them safe. In 2025, legislation I passed eliminated the reporting of testosterone from Colorado's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, ensuring that trans and non-binary folks wont be tracked simply because they use hormone replacement therapy (n.b. estrogen was already excluded from the program).

Yes. Colorado has significant and important nondiscrimination protections in law and regulation for LGBTQ people and those should be protected. However, I am certain that gaps exist and that our enforcement of these protections can be improved. In 2023, I passed legislation to make sure that hospitals had to disclose whether they performed certain Reproductive health care and gender affirming care procedure, so that folks across Colorado would know where they can receive the health care they need before they go to their local hospital and get turned away. I look forward to working with the LGBTQ+ community to identify how we can strengthen our laws and improve enforcement so that everyone can live as their true authentic selves at work and at home.

In 2025, I passed legislation to require insurers to cover gender affirming care, codifying our agency rules to ensure that the federal government could not take this life saving health care away. Doctors, patients and families should be making health care decisions, not politicians and not insurance companies. I will continue to oppose efforts to roll protections for gender affirming care back and work to protect our state's shield laws which protect doctors and other health care providers from political attacks from other states and the federal government. I will continue to work with the Attorney General's office to support their efforts fight court challenges to these protections.

Regardless of whether they live in Boulder or Baca County, every student has the right to be safe and supported as their true authentic self. We should not use local control as an excuse to condone discrimination and harassment of LGBTQ kids. State policy and funding should support these goals. While we have put some protections in place for kids to make sure their school districts and teachers and not engaging in harassment or discrimination, we should examine how we can tie state funding to these requirements so that school districts need to meet certain basic, nondiscrimination requirements in order to receive state funding.

As a former scientific researcher, I believe that policy making should be grounded in evidence. As a policy maker, I believe we should use the consensus from the medical community as the basis for our decision making, whether we are discussing gender affirming care, conversion "therapy," or vaccines. As a prime sponsor of SB26-032 we specifically decoupled our states vaccine recommendations from the pseudo science that is taking over vaccine policy at the federal level and made sure Colorado could rely upon the evidence based policy recommendations of major medical associations like the American Academy of Pediatrics. I passed HB25-1309 to codify gender affirming care into Colorado Insurance law because gender affirming care is evidence based and saves lives.

While the U.S. Supreme Court may disagree, I do not believe that we should allow folks who receive state funding to provide services to Coloradans to discriminate against people based on religious or any other reasons. Supporting the free exercise of religion and the first amendment does not mean that state services need to fund organizations who would seek to exclude, discriminate against or harass LGBTQ people. State funding should be used to foster inclusion and state services should be available to everyone, regardless of who they love or what their gender is.

I sincerely value the relationships I have with community organizations like RMEQ. I have been proud to pass legislation that has been supported and spearheaded by RMEQ in the past (e.g. accurate gender markers on death certificates and gender affirming care in insurance requirements) and I will continue to listen to the LGBTQ+ community about what is needed to make sure everyone is protected and has the health care they need and deserve. I will continue to reach out to RMEQ to listen to their legislative priorities and would love to continue to partner with RMEQ to promote equity for the LGBTQ+ community.

HD13: Consuelo Redhorse

To protect sensitive personal data that could be used to target or harm at-risk communities, specifically LGBTQ+ individuals, Colorado should ensure that current privacy laws include, or are expanded to include, information about sexual orientation and gender identity with stiff penalties for entities that knowingly share prohibited information. This should take place in tandem with enhanced confidentiality policies, including data encryption, limited access, and auditing of who is accessing this information.

Colorado should also require that these entities put clear consent protocols in place so that individuals have control over which aspects of this data are shared and with whom; and safeguards, including education and support, should be provided to adolescents and families to prevent unintended, harmful disclosures.

As a legislator, I would look into best practices and strong legislation introduced and passed in other places and, most importantly, listen to and work with affected stakeholders, subject matter experts, and colleagues to draft and support legislation that strengthens privacy protections and oversight, while also considering the fiscal impact of these mandates. I would center the needs of my constituents, and be open to feedback and legislative priorities that will help to ensure that members of Colorado’s at-risk communities are protected.

Yes, I support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare.

A couple key areas where there are gaps in current state law that require urgent legislative action include (1) the specific exemption under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act for employees of religious organizations that are not supported by public funds; (2) exemptions under the Colorado Fair Housing Act for owner-occupied units, non-brokered single family homes, and owner renting rooms; (3) ensuring that social service providers and homeless shelters appropriately serve LGBTQ+ people by providing them shelter and resources based on their gender identity (e.g, housing for transgender or non-binary people in gendered spaces with which they may not identify).

The enforcement of Colorado’s nondiscrimination laws can also be strengthened through legislative action that requires that affected entities, at a minimum, adopt policies that address mandatory, ongoing training for employers, educators, healthcare providers, and housing and other entities serving the public regarding LGBTQ+ inclusion and anti-discrimination policies.

I would defend access to evidence-based gender-affirming care by focusing on strengthening privacy protections. For providers and patients of legally protected healthcare, this would include working with stakeholders and colleagues to introduce state legislation that would strengthen SB 25-129, for example, extending prescription label privacy to gender-affirming therapies including specific hormone therapies and blockers.

Further, as described in my answer to the first question on this application, I would work with stakeholders and colleagues to strengthen data privacy through legislative action, including the requirement for enhanced confidentiality policies for organizations handling related sensitive information, addressing data encryption, limited access, and auditing who is accessing the information.

To ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, I would work with education advocates and colleagues to take a multi-pronged approach. Some possibilities include requiring school districts to have policies that address restorative practices; reallocating or increasing financial incentives and resources for educators that commit to employment with a district where the demographic of their educators do not match that of their students; and modifying the Colorado School Finance Act to increase categorical funding for students with higher needs or including a factor to address recommendations from the State’s educational adequacy study. Some of this increased funding to schools could be directed to required professional development for all educators, administrators, and support staff that addresses student safety, belonging, and well-being.

State law, funding, and oversight all play significant roles; with rule-making by the State Board of Education, Colorado Department of Education initiatives and programs, and local school district policies having a large impact through interpretation, implementation, and oversight of state law. Funding plays the most important role, as the ability for schools to function as a strong community hub that can adequately support student needs requires maintaining or increasing funding for public schools.

I would anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions (hereafter referred to as “inclusive policies”) affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science by addressing vital information around health and economic impacts for LGBTQ+ individuals and communities at large. Overall, I would look to data that supports the premise that inclusive policies enhance public health, improve economic stability, and reduce societal costs.

I would continue to learn from LGBTQ+ allies and organizations, evidence-based medical and social science journals and articles, and other resources to ensure that I can provide specific data that supports and defends these decisions, especially when facing ideological or political pressures. I would also seek out information that is specific to Colorado, and also addresses different demographics and regions.

In addition to building a strong understanding of evidence-based medical and social science that supports inclusive policies, I would seek to understand information and communication gaps, and the lived experience and ideological backgrounds of those who are opposed to inclusive policies in order to understand how to best approach their concerns in a way supports the LGBTQ+ community and their community.

When faced with a claim for religious exemption to seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state funded services, programs, or protections, my response would be that I believe in the fundamental right for people to be treated equally, regardless of the presence of protected characteristics (including sex, sexual preference, gender identity, or gender expression) and public funds cannot be used to support discrimination.

Free exercise of religion does not include the right to discriminate against others; and Colorado’s antidiscrimination laws and strong LGBTQ+ protections highlight the importance of equal access for ALL to state-funded services, programs, and protections. If a religious organization discriminates against LGBQT+ people in any form, they should not be able to accept public funding. This discrimination would lead to unequal access by LGBTQ+ people to essential services, and is unjust.

Legal precedent supports this. In a 2025 ruling, a judge determined that the Colorado Universal Preschool Program’s non-discrimination rules, which include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity, do not violate religious freedom. This ruling ensures that our tax dollars are not being used to support discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.

If elected, I would establish advisory committees from members within and outside of my district to help inform my legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities. These advisory committees could include local community members and leaders from organizations that are active advocates, people of all ages with lived experience that may or may not be politically active, subject-matter experts, and others, including LGBTQ+ community members.

I would actively seek out viewpoints that can help me understand issues, challenges, and potential solutions by going to where my constituents are and through electronic meetings (as my district is very large and geographically diverse) or in-person meetings at the Capitol, and ensuring that my team is communicating with the public to keep them informed about what’s going on during the legislative session, important bills, and opportunities to be involved in the process. I would also actively seek feedback on how I do better as a legislator to inform professional and personal improvements.

I would ensure that I am available, accessible, and transparent with my constituents throughout the year. In addition to the intentional outreach shared above, I’d participate in in-person and virtual office hours, town halls, visits to organizations, community events, and meetings.

HD16: Stephanie Vigil

The right to privacy and due process is paramount to freedom in America, and LGBTQ+ Coloradans deserve to live their own lives free of oppression by the state or targeted attacks of violence or discrimination. In order to protect this freedom, we need to limit data collection to only what is truly necessary. I would support legislation that prohibits the purchase of private data by law enforcement and state agencies. I would also like to see us give individuals more control over what information is collected and shared, with the option to opt out wherever possible.

Yes. I’ve carried and co-sponsored bills to protect equal access to public restrooms, prevent the intentional deadnaming of transgender youth in public schools, refer marriage equality to the ballot, and protect transgender patients in Colorado from outside prosecution from oppressive states, and I plan to continue this work once I am back in office. Some of the areas that I believe need further work are expanding access to gender-affirming care, adequately staffing and funding the Colorado Civil Rights Division, and further protecting LGBTQ+ students from discrimination.

Additionally, I believe that while we have some strong anti-discrimination laws in Colorado, too often we fall short when it comes to enforcing those laws. Individuals who are discriminated against in schools, housing, or employment often don’t have the information they need about how to seek redress, may not be able to afford legal services, or they receive assistance but it’s too little and too late. We need better funding for civil rights enforcement as well as better public resources and education so Coloradans know their rights.

Gender-affirming care is health care, full stop. And while I’m glad we have passed shield laws to protect patients and providers, as well as passed legislation to require health benefit plans to include gender-affirming care, there’s a lot more we need to do to defend these protections. We need to pass robust legislation aimed at protecting patient privacy and strengthening existing protections so that federal pressure and court challenges can’t undo the progress we’ve already made. We also need real accountability, oversight, and transparency so that insurers and providers aren’t erecting barriers that make accessing care impossible. I was glad to see the recent Colorado Supreme Court decision requiring Children’s Hospital Colorado to provide gender-affirming services – this shows the role our state can play in making sure everyone can access the care they need.

Our schools need to be places of learning, but learning becomes all but impossible when students are facing discrimination or an unsafe environment due to their identity. I proudly prime sponsored HB24-1039 in 2024, prohibiting deliberate deadnaming of kids in Colorado public schools and requiring local districts to adopt a policy on chosen names compliance. Not every district is going about this exactly as we’d like, and we continue to need local advocacy and activism, but I’m confident in the statutory language we chose and its durability. This type of legislation means very little in practice if it is not being enforced, and we’ll need meaningful accountability when schools fail to meet their obligations.

And finally, many Colorado schools simply don’t have the resources they need to be inclusive and safe places for all students. Disability accommodation, school counselors, nondiscrimination training for educators, and multilingual classes are all critical for students’ wellbeing and inclusivity. They also routinely fall by the wayside when our schools are underfunded, as they currently are. I’ll be advocating for a yes vote on the school funding measures that will be on the ballot with me this November.

Public policy should be rooted in evidence and built through deliberation and consensus. There is no role for religious dogma or bigotry, and separation of church and state is critical in preserving our multi-cultural, pluralist democracy. We do this by consulting with affected communities and those with the relevant scientific and legal expertise in the legislative process. Discrimination against LGBTQ+ kids leads to worse mental health outcomes and higher incidences of suicide, whereas gender-affirming care and the presence of supportive adults are protective factors. Far-right attempts to manufacture controversies about what sports kids are allowed to play only serve to distract from this reality.

People and institutions have the right to their beliefs, but their beliefs do not entitle them to discriminate against others. This is doubly true regarding institutions that are publicly funded and provide a public service.

I oppose any religious exemption claims that allow publicly funded programs to discriminate against LGTBQ+ individuals, whether that’s in health care, housing, education, or any other sector. I would also support stronger enforcement mechanisms as well as a clear, accessible complaint process so individuals know where to turn if their rights are being violated under the guise of religious liberty.

Equity and inclusion are central to why I first ran for office. I’m a working-class LGBTQ+ person who has faced mental and physical health struggles, and I didn’t see many people with my life experiences in elected office. During my first term, I made it a priority to listen to impacted communities when crafting policy, and I plan to do the same when reelected. I already have a strong working relationship with local LGBTQ+ community-based organizations like Prism Community Collective, and I will continue to build and maintain those relationships in office.

While it can be tempting to think Colorado has turned a corner and bigotry is a thing of the past, it was within my lifetime that Colorado was known as “the hate state” because of the discriminatory nature of our constitution. The massacre at Club Q here in HD-16 strikes incredibly close to home. We will see further efforts to erode our rights on the ballot this year, including Proposed Initiatives #109 and #110. That history, and the threats we still face, are why meaningful engagement can’t be symbolic or occasional.

HD19: Jillaire McMillan

Colorado laws already aim to protect personal data held by state agencies, but there are some ways that the practices could be strengthened. One way could be to mandate that when state agencies are implementing new processes or adopting new technology that collect or handle private information, they have completed a privacy impact assessment to ensure that personal data will be protected. Formal assessments are a best practice that do not appear to presently be required.

Yes, I support maintaining the protections provided by the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act that prevent discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender discrimination. While the state law is clear, the actual experiences of individual Coloradans isn’t always perfect and enforcement often relies on the victims’ ability to report. As some federal policies shift or become unclear under the current administration, it is necessary for Colorado to clearly define and codify nondiscrimination policies and equitable access into state law so that educators and healthcare providers, especially, will not be at risk of prosecution for providing services and giving care to LGBTQ+ Coloradans.

I believe that medical decisions should be made by patients and competent medical professionals. State laws should support and protect individuals and providers in making medical decisions based on evidence-based research. If the state is going to regulate and/or provide funding for medical care in Colorado, such regulations and funding should support evidence-based treatment equitably, whether it be pediatric, orthopedic, cardiac, geriatric, or gender-affirming care.

I am a mom of four. Two of my children have graduated from Colorado public schools and two are currently attending. I also have two transgender nieces in another state. Making sure schools are safe and inclusive is important to me as a mother and aunt foremost, and that will influence how I prioritize this as a legislator. CADA requires schools to not discriminate and should be providing a blueprint by which administrators and teachers can be acting to protect students. I don’t think funding should be pulled from a school due to the behavior of site administrators and teachers, but there should be a path of accountability that runs through school boards and district administrators that lets them know that failure to address–and possibly remove–problem personnel can affect state funding. Local boards and superintendents need to have local control, but nondiscrimination is not a local decision. State law must be followed to receive state support.

I would seek out research from trusted organizations and stakeholders rather than simply listening to opinions. While I recognize that this can be a charged and polarizing issue for some, I believe that championing science is the best way to approach decisions that might be difficult for some to understand from a purely ideological view.

The US Constitution provides religions some protections when it comes to the power of the government, and upholding this right is important to me. However, I do not believe that there should be exemptions granted that open ways for individuals to be discriminated against. The government relies on public institutions to provide many services to residents. If an organization is going to receive state funds for services, those services should be equally available to all Colorado residents.

I already have a great record of engaging with community-based organizations through volunteer work and showing up at community events, and that is something I hope that my schedule will continue to allow if I am elected. As a legislator, I would hold regular town hall events and sponsor visits to the Capitol by constituents. To engage specific communities, such as LGBTQ+ constituents, I would use a variety of means, including gathering information from constituents who engage with my office and reaching out via organizations such as Rocky Mountain Equality.

HD23: Alexis Hoffkling

Privacy is always important, and all the more so in the setting of a persecutory federal regime. I'm cautious about a universal simple approach to a highly varied set of data situations, but by and large, we should ensure that this data is only used for public good, and I would consider requiring that this information not be shared with law enforcement or any federal agency without a subpoena.

I 100% support these nondiscrimination protections. I would welcome guidance from content experts on what gaps currently exist.

I deeply believe that the locus of decision-making belongs with patients, families, and their medical team. And I have more than enough exposure to trans adults and youth to understand the stakes, and the risk of harm from restricting access to health care. As a physician, I am well-positioned to advocate with my legislative colleagues and other actors about the true facts around this care, and the importance of protecting the autonomy of patients.

If a child doesn't feel safe and welcome, it becomes very difficult to learn. This means that ensuring cultural safety for all students is core to the mission of our schools, not extraneous. schools that are unable or unwilling to ensure a safe environment are derelict in their duty, and need to change.

I believe in legislation that actually works, not just sends a message, so I need to learn more about the effective levers available to ensure that schools fulfill this obligation.

One person/entity's right to religious freedom does not supersede the civil rights of other people, full stop.

I am queer, and I live, work, and play amongst LGBTQ+ communities, so I remain deeply connected to our lived realities. I plan to work closely with our community organizations on assessing policy, and my door is always open to advocates who would like to collaborate on new legislation.

HD27: Danielle Varda

All Coloradans deserve to access health care, education, and public services without fear that their personal information could be weaponized by any administration or outside actor. LQBTQ+ communities are routinely targeted in this Administration, and data breaches put people at risk.

Sensitive personal data—especially information related to sexual orientation, gender identity, HIV status, reproductive and behavioral health, immigration status, and participation in public programs— must be protected as high-risk data held in trust. As a data-scientist, I think about confidentiality and anonymity, especially for special and protected populations. In the legislature I would:

- Practice data minimization: collect only what is necessary, limit how long it’s retained, and prohibit use for unrelated purposes.

- Implement strong safeguards that include encryption, multi-factor authentication, role-based access controls, and audits with real consequences for misuse.

- Limit Cross-agency data sharing by default and require formal privacy agreements.

- Limit disclosures to only those that are legally required, and subject to heightened review.

- Engage impacted community in policy development.

We can and should reduce what we collect, harden how it’s stored, tightly limit who can access it, and put real oversight in place so it can’t be weaponized by any administration or outside actor.

Yes — I absolutely support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and health care. Colorado has made important progress, but protections only matter if they’re clear, enforced, and felt in people’s daily lives.

We need to make sure the Colorado Civil Rights Division has the resources to investigate complaints quickly and fairly. Delays and red tape discourage people from speaking up. In health care, protections should be explicit and comprehensive, including clear safeguards against discrimination and protection for access to gender-affirming care.

Housing is another urgent area. LGBTQ+ youth and transgender Coloradans face disproportionately high rates of housing instability, and we must ensure shelters and transitional housing programs are inclusive and affirming.

As a former Jeffco School Board Director, belonging and safety for kids has been central to my work. I’ve seen firsthand how much it matters when students feel safe, respected, and supported at school. LGBTQ+ students deserve clear policies that protect them from discrimination and bullying and ensure they can participate fully in school life.

Colorado should continue leading with laws that are strong, enforceable, and centered on dignity and safety for every community member.

Colorado law recognizes that decisions about gender-affirming care belong to patients, families, and qualified medical providers. I support keeping those protections in place.

If elected, I would work to ensure access cannot be limited through changes to state law, regulations, or funding decisions. That includes making sure our statutes are clear, consistent with established medical standards, and strong enough to withstand legal challenges. I would also support protecting providers and patients from unnecessary interference so they can focus on care, not uncertainty.

If federal pressure or court challenges arise, Colorado should respond thoughtfully and firmly, working with the Attorney General to defend existing law and ensure that our policies reflect evidence-based medicine.

For all families, this is very personal. It’s about their child and their well-being. What they need most is stability. Young people and adults who rely on this care deserve steady support and clear rules — not sudden changes that create fear or uncertainty.

My focus would be on maintaining a health care system where decisions are guided by medical expertise, patient well-being, and respect for families — and where people can access care safely and without fear.

Schools are the hubs of our communities, where students should feel safe and welcoming for every child, without exceptions. Every student — LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrant students, students with disabilities — deserves to walk into school knowing they belong. Safety is non-negotiable and the State plays a role through funding for student supports and quick and fair reviews of civil rights violation and bullying complaints.

As a former Jeffco School Board Director, one of my first votes was to adopt “Safety and Belonging” as one of our district’s core Ends. This ensures that this directive was codified in policy, adding certainty that implementation is a requirement with penalties, and not merely a philosophy.

At the State House, that same conviction will guide me. Laws should clearly protect students from bullying and discrimination. Schools need adequate funding for counselors, mental health support, and staff training so adults know how to support students when challenges come up. And when families raise concerns, there should be clear, fair processes to address them.

Our schools play an important role in offering support to families and we have a responsibility to protect that space and make sure it stays welcoming for everyone.

When the state is making decisions that affect LGBTQ+ people, those decisions should be grounded in credible medical research, sound public health data, and established social science, and not in politics or religion. And we must respect lived experiences and ensure that science is interpreted in context.

That means listening to physicians, mental health professionals, researchers, educators, and the people directly impacted. If we’re proposing a change to law or regulation, we should be able to clearly explain what evidence supports it and what outcomes we expect. Established medical standards of care should guide health-related policy, and patient autonomy and privacy must always be respected.

We must also provide adequate funding for programs that are proven to improve well-being — including mental health services, suicide prevention, violence prevention, and inclusive school supports. We should evaluate outcomes and adjust policies based on what’s working, not on shifting political narratives.

Coloradans deserve thoughtful, evidence-based policymaking that prioritizes safety, fairness, and real-world results. And implementation should strengthen the systems of care necessary to provide quality care, data protections, and social support for protected populations.

We’ve seen in Colorado how these issues play out in real time. While serving as a Jeffco School Board Director, our district faced a lawsuit over overnight field trip accommodations for transgender students. The case became part of a broader national effort to challenge inclusive policies by framing them as conflicts over religion or parental rights.

What I saw firsthand is how quickly complex student safety issues can be pulled into larger political fights. Our responsibility as a district was to follow state nondiscrimination law, protect student privacy, and make sure every child felt safe and respected. This is not about ideology or religious beliefs, rather it’s about making sure schools serve all students in a safe and welcoming environment.

When it comes to religious exemption claims tied to state-funded services, I believe the same principle applies: public institutions and publicly funded programs must follow civil rights law and serve people equally. Individuals have the right to their beliefs. We cannot create carve-outs that allow discrimination against LGBTQ+ people.

Colorado has worked hard to build strong protections. We cannot allow those protections to be weakened under the banner of religious exemption. Equality under the law must remain the standard.

Partnering with community is the core of my approach to everything. I believe people are the experts of their own experiences. The people who are living with the impact of our laws every day should have a real voice in shaping them.

I hold sacred the concept of “nothing about us without us”. This is how government should work. I don’t want to be making decisions about LGBTQ+ Coloradans without sitting down, listening, and understanding their experiences, needs, and ideas.

And I cannot emphasize enough the necessity that engagement has to be authentic. That means we cannot simply make decisions in advance and use feedback to confirm the process. The whole point is to let what we hear shape the solution. Sometimes that means slowing down, reworking language, or even changing direction based on how many viewpoints come together.

That requires building trust, listening and, showing through action that you can be a safe partner in the work. I am proud of my public record and the relationships I have built. I plan to bring the practice of being a trusted pattern and ally to the Capitol.

HD29: Lori Goldstein

Colorado has a responsibility to protect the personal information residents are required to share in order to access health care, education, housing, and public services. No one should fear that seeking medical care, updating an ID, enrolling in school, or applying for assistance could put them or their family at risk, especially LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and other vulnerable communities who are increasingly being targeted.

I would strengthen data minimization policies. State agencies should only collect the information that is absolutely necessary to provide a service, and they should not retain that data longer than required. The less information we collect and store, the less there is to misuse or weaponize.

We need stronger legal barriers to prevent improper data sharing.

Legislative oversight must be real and ongoing. Agencies should be accountable, and residents should have clear rights to know what information is being held about them and how it is being used.

A privacy policy should not be written in a vacuum. Stakeholders ned to be at the table.

As a legislator, I should not just to react after harm occurs, but pass legislation to prevent it. Protecting privacy is protecting freedom, dignity, and safety.

I support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in every part of life.

We have made progress, but legal protections are only meaningful if they are enforceable and accessible. We must continue closing the gap between what is written in statute and what people experience in real life.

One urgent area is healthcare access. LGBTQ+ Coloradans, especially transgender individuals, continue to face discrimination in obtaining medically necessary care, insurance coverage, and respectful treatment. We need stronger protections to ensure that providers and insurers cannot deny care based on gender identity or sexual orientation, and we must defend access to gender-affirming care from political attacks.

We should strengthen tenant protections and ensure landlords are held accountable when discrimination occurs.

In education, students deserve safe learning environments free from bullying, harassment, and bad policies. We should support inclusive school policies, protect students’ privacy, and ensure schools have accountability when discrimination happens.

Too many people do not report discrimination. When reported we should ensure timely investigations and meaningful consequences for violations.

We must remain vigilant as national political attacks increase. State law should be strong enough that the federal government cannot undermine the dignity, safety, and rights of LGBTQ+ Coloradans.

I support protecting access to gender-affirming care and will work to defend those protections against any attempt to undermine them.

Medical decisions belong between patients, families, and their healthcare providers, not politicians. Gender-affirming care is evidence-based, medically necessary care, and for many people it is lifesaving.

As a legislator, I will oppose any bill that seeks to restrict access to gender-affirming care, deny insurance coverage, limit provider protections, or create barriers through licensing or administrative rules.

I would also support strengthening legal protections for providers, patients, and families so they are shielded from politically motivated investigations or out-of-state attempts to interfere with lawful care provided in Colorado. We have taken steps in this direction, and we should continue.

We need to protect public funding where appropriate. We must ensure that state programs and insurance systems do not quietly create inequities by excluding medically necessary care for transgender Coloradans.

Federal actions are threatening these rights, Colorado must be prepared to use every legal tool available, including litigation when necessary, to defend our laws and our residents.

People deserve the freedom to access medically appropriate care without government interference or political attacks. I will always stand for protecting that right.

Public schools should be safe, welcoming places where every student can learn, grow, and feel they belong. That means protecting all the groups mentioned above from discrimination, bullying, and exclusion.

State law must provide clear protections and strong accountability. I support strengthening anti-discrimination policies so every school district has consistent standards for student safety, privacy, and equal access to opportunities. Students should not lose protections based on where they live.

Funding is also essential. Schools need resources for counselors, mental health support, inclusive curriculum, staff training, and programs that address bullying and harassment before they escalate. Supporting educators with professional development helps ensure schools are places of respect and understanding.

Oversight matters because protections are only meaningful if they are enforced. The state should ensure complaints are handled fairly, families have accessible reporting options, and districts are held accountable when they fail to protect students.

Every child deserves the chance to succeed without fear. Our responsibility is to make sure schools reflect that promise with fairness, dignity, and opportunity for all.

Laws and public policy should be grounded in facts, research, and expert guidance, not fear, politics, or ideology. When decisions affect LGBTQ+ people, especially in healthcare, education, and public safety, we have a responsibility to rely on evidence-based medical standards and established social science.

That means listening to physicians, mental health professionals, educators, and researchers who work directly with impacted communities, as well as the people whose lives are affected by these policies. Gender-affirming care, for example, is supported by major medical organizations because it improves health outcomes and saves lives. Legislators should not substitute political rhetoric for medical expertise.

I would oppose efforts to restrict care, education, or civil rights based on misinformation or moral panic. Instead, I would support legislation that requires agencies and public programs to use recognized professional standards and transparent data when shaping policy and funding decisions.

Oversight also matters. We should require regular review of state programs to ensure they are meeting outcomes and serving communities fairly, while protecting privacy and civil rights.

Religious freedom is a fundamental right, but it should never be used as a license to discriminate or deny someone equal access to public services, healthcare, housing, or education. When services are funded by taxpayers and intended to serve the public, every person deserves fair treatment and equal protection under the law.

I respect sincerely held religious beliefs, but personal beliefs cannot override another person’s civil rights or block access to essential care. LGBTQ+ Coloradans should not be turned away from healthcare providers, shelters, adoption services, or public programs because of who they are.

As a legislator, I would oppose overly broad religious exemptions that create loopholes in nondiscrimination laws or allow state-funded entities to deny services. We must ensure that public dollars are not used to support discrimination.

Colorado should continue strengthening clear legal standards so religious liberty and civil rights are balanced appropriately with the understanding that government has a duty to protect equal access for all residents.

Our laws should reflect fairness, dignity, and respect. No one should have to choose between receiving basic services and being treated with humanity.

Good policy should improve lives, not score political points. My role is to protect people, not ideology.

If elected, meaningful engagement starts with listening, not just during campaign season, but consistently throughout my time in office. LGBTQ+ Coloradans deserve representation that is informed by their lived experiences, not assumptions.

I would maintain regular communication with LGBTQ+ community members, advocacy organizations, healthcare providers, educators, and youth leaders to understand the real impact of proposed legislation and state policies. That means attending community meetings, hosting accessible town halls, meeting with local organizations, and making sure people know my office is open and responsive.

I also believe engagement must include those whose voices are often overlooked—rural residents, transgender individuals, LGBTQ+ youth, seniors, and people navigating multiple barriers such as disability, housing insecurity, or immigration challenges.

Legislative priorities should be shaped by the people most affected. Before voting on bills involving healthcare, education, housing, or civil rights, I would seek direct input from impacted communities and policy experts to ensure decisions are informed, practical, and protective.

Representation is not just about speaking for people—it is about creating space for people to be heard and making sure that voice leads to action, accountability, and stronger policy outcomes.

HD32: Chris VanDijk

In the current political climate, sensitive data isn't just administrative, it’s a target list for federal overreach. I refuse to let our state’s records be weaponized against the LGBTQ+ family and friends I’ve spent my life championing.

I will use legislative authority to build a digital firewall, legally prohibiting state agencies from sharing personal identifiers with federal entities intent on targeting our residents. I will mandate radical data minimization, ensuring the state only collects what is essential and purges records the moment they are no longer needed. I will establish an independent privacy oversight committee to conduct unannounced audits of data agreements, closing loopholes that let private contractors exploit our digital lives.

We aren't just protecting databases; we are protecting people. Colorado must be a sanctuary where you can live your truth without fear of government surveillance.

As a firefighter, I never ask someone who they love before saving them from a fire. My support for equal rights in housing, jobs, and healthcare comes from that same belief. Everyone deserves to be safe and treated with respect.

We have made strides through recent legislation, like the Kelly Loving Act. I will use my legislative authority to strengthen the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act by raising non-economic damage caps, ensuring that justice for victims of discrimination is not a luxury reserved for the wealthy. Furthermore, we must address the material reality that LGBTQ+ Coloradans, particularly youth and people of color, face disproportionate housing insecurity. I will champion universal housing vouchers and dedicated funding for safe shelters.

Finally, we must stop insurance companies from using excuses to deny healthcare to trans people. A right is not real if you cannot access it. I am running to make sure that safety and dignity are a reality for every person in our community.

Gender-affirming care is life-saving healthcare, and I will defend it with the same urgency I bring to an emergency call. My friends and family in the trans community deserve to live without fear that their medical needs will be used as a political weapon.

To protect these rights, I will uphold Colorado’s status as a sanctuary state. I will support legislation that blocks state agencies from cooperating with out-of-state investigations or federal pressure to restrict care. We must ensure that our state "Shield Laws" remain unbreakable and that no Colorado resources are used to harm our residents.

In the legislature, I will vote against any attempt to strip funding from clinics or change regulations to make care harder to access. Healthcare decisions belong to patients and their doctors, not politicians. I will treat any attack on this care as a direct threat to public safety.

As the parent of a fifteen-year-old at Denver School of the Arts, I see the joy that comes from an environment where diversity is the norm. My child’s school is welcoming and inclusive, but I know that not every student in Colorado has that same experience.

I will use state law to protect inclusive books and curriculum, so every child sees themselves in their education. Funding must be shifted away from punishment and toward mental health support and social workers.

Oversight is critical to ensuring schools comply with anti-discrimination laws, especially regarding names and pronouns, because how we choose to identify ourselves should be respected. We must hold districts accountable if they fail to prevent harassment. I am running to ensure the belonging my child feels at DSA is not an exception, but the standard for every public school. Every student deserves to feel safe as they learn and grow into their truest selves.

I believe that public service means serving the entire public. When organizations accept state funding to provide a service, they must follow our non-discrimination laws. No Coloradan should be denied access to a taxpayer-funded program because of their identity or their family.

We have seen ongoing efforts to use religious exemptions to bypass these protections. I agree with our courts that when an entity takes public money, it must play by the same rules as everyone else. This is not a matter of religious hostility. It is a matter of fairness and equal access to the services we all pay for.

While I respect religious freedom, I respect the freedom from religion even more. It cannot be used to discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community in the public square. I will oppose any legislation or regulation that seeks to create special rules for those who wish to limit the rights of my friends and family within the LGBTQ+ community.

I am lucky to have many close friends and family members in the LGBTQ+ community, and their lives are part of my own.

I also know that being a true ally requires humility. I know what I don’t know. I will never pretend to have all the answers, but I will always show up to listen. I will rely on the community to continue educating me and to share their specific needs.

If elected, you will be the co-authors of my work. I will host regular meetings and stay in constant contact with community leaders and families to ensure my votes reflect your lived reality. My door will always be open. I am committed to staying close to this community and learning from you every single day. I am running to make sure the belonging my child feels at school is the standard for every person in our state.

HD33: Kenny Nguyen

As a State Representative for House District 33, I believe that we should protect this data from any federal overreach. I would be a proponent of any legislation to restrict state level agencies and organizations with turning over any private or personal data to the federal administration or out of state entities. Vulnerable communities such as Transgender people privacy and information should be safeguarded.

I affirm and pledge to maintain and continue to protect Colorado's LGBTQ+ community from any form of discrimination. I believe the current legislative issue would be the Protecting the Freedom to Mary Act and to continue to support people seeking gender affirming healthcare. Hospitals and clinics should continue to allow and permit transgender youth seeking healthcare.

I would continue to support and use SB23-188 to protect providers and patients from federal overreach and seek to bring back hospitals and public health providers to come back to the table to assist and provide gender affirming healthcare.

I would proudly and openly stand up to support gender affirming care in protests, speeches, and rallies. Trans rights are human rights.

I would continue to codify the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA). We need to continue to bring state protections in the event that the federal government continues to use its Department of Education to withdraw funding and harass public schools that have shown liberal or progressive communities.

I would continue to expand and codify the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA). My efforts and hope is to work with organizations such as One Colorado and ACLU Colorado to protect any religious exemptions that would affect state services that would discriminate LGBTQ+ people.

As a current State Representative I've made a clear policy on supporting and advocating for transgender youth in my community. I already and will continue to pledge my policy to be proactive in defending and protecting our LBGTQ+ community and making a Colorado a place for everyone regardless of your race, creed, gender, or sexual orientation.

HD49: Lesley Smith

I strongly believe that all personal data collected by health care providers, educational providers, social service, etc. must be strongly safeguarded and especially protected from access by the Federal government. I am not an IT expert, so I cannot answer the best way to do this. I can give some examples from when I was associated with CU. As best as the university system office and each of the campus offices can do to protect data collected, there still have been breaches. When I was an employee, we received an email alerting us that our social security numbers had been compromised. CU suggested that we open accounts with the three major credit rating bureaus freeze access to opening new credit card accounts. Recently, Canvass, a popular software used in teaching was compromised. The university quickly stopped using Canvas and alerted the CU community of what happened. This is an outside vendor, which CU has no control over. These examples illustrate that even with the strongest firewalls, data breaches happen. The state and other organizations that collect data need to update security frequently, alert people when a breach happens and provide help to ameliorate the breach.

I’m a staunch ally of the LGBTQ+ community, and I will stand up to any discrimination against them in employment, housing, public accommodations, education and healthcare. The legislature has consistently strengthened antidiscrimination legislation for the LGBTQ+ community. I am unaware of gaps in state law or enforcement, but I would be open to learning about legislation that RMEQ would like to see introduced next session. Obviously, we are losing a strong champion of these rights with Rep Titone terming out. However, we have several strong champions that have brought forward legislation, such as Reps McCormick and Brown. I will always back any legislative efforts to strengthen nondiscrimination.

This session we tried to push back on the Federal ban on gender affirming care by our hospitals, but this has been an uphill battle because of the threat of losing Federal funding for those hospitals that provide gender-affirming care. Fortunately, four families sued Children’s Hospital, and the Colorado Supreme Court recently ordered the trial court to issue a preliminary injunction directing Children’s Hospital Colorado to once again provide health care for transgender youth. I will be watching anxiously to learn of the lower court’s decision. With our tight budget this past session and a tight budget next session, the state’s general fund cannot backfill funding that hospitals may lose from the Federal government if they pull funding because of this treatment.

Colorado schools must provide a safe and inclusive environment for all students in the school community. When I was on the Board of Education of BVSD, I was very proud that we included LGBTQ students in our anti-discrimination policy. When each segment of the student population is specifically included in antidiscrimination policies it shows that LGBTQ students, along with all our other students, are valued. The state of Colorado is one of eight states that have local control of its school districts, meaning policies are set by the local school boards, not by the state. The state Board of Education and the Colorado Department of Education oversee school districts. I am not certain how the state Legislature can guarantee and inclusive and safe environment for all students. That being said, if a parent or student reached out to me about feeling unsafe, I would certainly find the right avenue to help the student to feel safe.

As an academic with a thirty-year at CU, I always try to anchor my work with data. We are fortunately that the state Legislature is firmly in Democratic hands, and we law makers nearly always anchor our legislation in evidence-based medical and social science theory (one law Democratic law maker is the exception). I will never cave to ideological or political pressure when it comes to these matters.

Colorado is always a testing ground to erode both LGBTQ+ rights and abortion rights at the ballot box. Fortunately, we have always successfully shot down these attempts, and this election will test us again. There are two initiatives aimed at the LGBTQ+ community: Initiative 109 – male and female participation in school sports, and Initiative 110 – prohibit certain surgeries on minors. Our caucus has been apprised of these initiatives through a presentation by One Colorado, who I assume is leading the charge against these. I plan to focus of my upcoming newsletters on these initiatives, as well as other initiatives that will have a negative impact on our state. I plan to title the newsletter, Decline to Sign, and explain each initiative and ask my constituents to not sign the petitions currently being circulated.

I am well-known by the leadership and lobbyists at RMEQ and One Colorado (Nadine served on the search committee I chaired for hiring the CU president), and they know that they can always reach out to me about an issue, a bill that I might be able to sponsor, etc. I attend the wonderful annual Garden Party sponsored by RMEQ and am friends with many in the LGBTQ+ community. I think everyone knows I will always have an open door and will welcome any input they want to provide for me.

HD51: Jacki Marsh

The state could work towards preventing gender affirming care information from being visible on patient portals and preventing medicare & medicaid from limiting services based on procedure code and diagnosis.

I would support any efforts to maintain privacy based on HIPPA protected information.

Yes, I support maintaining and strengthening protections. With the recent Supreme Court Decision regarding our conversion therapy ban, we need to re-address this. Additionally, LGBTQ+ individuals are uninsured at a higher rate and potentially have a pre-disposition for acute and chronic conditions than cisgender individuals. We need to work to address these disparities and ensure that insurance coverage doesn't exclude care for these individuals' unique needs.

We could codify these protection into the Colorado constitution, continue to fight against sharing this information with the federal government, work to quickly make new legislation that responds to the attacks of the federal government to maintain a safe state of Colorado.

All schools receiving school funds, must comply with state law and title 9 protections. We could work to hold school districts more accountable to ensuring schools are responding quickly to situations, offering training, etc.

I stand firmly in the idea that health information stays between the patient and the doctor and ensuring privacy at all times.

This is why I am seeking the endorsement of organizations like this one, with the goal of utilizing your knowledge and expertise when I question the evidence presented.

I believe in the separation of church and state. I would respond by not supporting such exemptions.

I was the Mayor of Loveland for 8 years, and in that time I have a history of showing up and engaging with the LGBTQ+ communities locally, attending, volunteering and speaking at local events, also listening and responding to the community members needs, etc. I would continue this effort, but also engage further with organizations like this one to gain additional knowledge of how best I can support.

HD53: Andrew Boesenecker

In particular, I am concerned with the increased utilization of surveillance technology at the local and state levels. This includes the usage and data privacy concerns around Flock cameras and other cameras/technologies that capture data that could put Coloradans at risk. We simply cannot trust privately-owned companies to safeguard data that could be used to prosecute or otherwise harm LGBTQ+ Coloradans. Likewise, we cannot assume altruistic intentions for companies that answer to shareholders. The same is true for personal data held by the state. Ensuring that sensitive data remains shielded from a federal administration that seeks to harm LGBTQ+ Coloradans is a priority, and it must come with both safeguards and accountability for those who transgress state law.

Yes. My work in the legislature has focused on the issue of affordable housing, and I fully recognize the equity gap that exists for LGBTQ+ Coloradans in finding housing that is affordable and safe. This includes lower-than-average homeownership rates for LGBTQ+ Coloradans as compared with their peers, a lack of options for affirming and supportive retirement housing and long-term care facilities, as well as higher percentages of housing instability overall. While connected to larger issues such as employment opportunities, the ability to save, etc., the data points to the continued need to ensure housing is open and accessible to all people while focusing on closing equity gaps for LGBTQ+ Coloradans. In light of the Trump Administration's actions, this must include strengthening state-level anti-discrimination laws wherever possible.

I have long fought to protect gender affirming care in our state, including supporting vital legislative efforts such as HB25-1309. I will also be working to beat Initiatives 109 and 110 at the ballot box as these measures are regressive, dangerous, and out of line with the values of our state. This year I was proud to support HB26-1322 which is a vital measure to protect against the dangers of conversion therapy. I believe all of these bills play together to create an environment where Coloradans have access to the services they need without fear of intimidation or threats. I will continue to ensure equity in access to healthcare that recognizes gender affirming care as the life-saving care it truly is.

Public education must stay public. I believe that is the first step to ensuring that our education system is inclusive of all identities and beliefs. As a former public school teacher in a Title I school, I have seen firsthand how critical quality public education is and how our public schools must remain safe for all students. In addition to fully funding our public schools, we must remain united against the privatization of education in the United States and ensure that all students, regardless of background, have access to the same educational opportunities. This means empowering teachers with the resources and curriculum they need to teach an honest (and sometimes uncomfortable) account of different lived experiences in our country, while supporting students in embracing all of who they are.

First, Rocky Mountain Equality and other advocacy organizations have been, and will remain, critical to our efforts to ensure that we're making decisions as a legislature based on science, not speculation. In my community, our values are clear: Fort Collins is a place for all people to thrive, including our LGBTQ+ neighbors and friends. I have not experienced political pressure to vote otherwise; it would go against what I believe and what my community expects. That being said, the data around these issues is clear and compelling (using housing as an example, where nearly 1/3 of transgender people have reported being unhoused at some point in their life), and the action we take as a state must match the medical and social science data we have. Furthermore, we must trust the lived experiences of the LGBTQ+ community in making decisions around statute and funding of services in our state.

I'm a former clergy member in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. I pastored a congregation of house churches that primarily provided outreach, affirmation, and support to LGBTQ+ individuals and families here in Northern Colorado. I'd start by saying that if your religion is defined by determining winners and losers, you're doing it wrong. I also believe that the laws of our state should apply to all organizations, and that limiting access to protections, services, or programs, using religion as an excuse, is just blatant discrimination. People deserve access to the same resources regardless of their identity or orientation. Period.

I continue to have a strong relationship with LGBTQ+ organizations and businesses here in Northern Colorado. This is, in part, due to my background as Lutheran clergy, but also as a part of our continued engagement on these issues at the state and local level. I don't know what I don't know - so engagement and advocacy from the community here in Fort Collins remains critical as we continue to fight for a state where all people are affirmed and welcomed for who they are.

HD57: Elizabeth Velasco

Data privacy continues to be a state wide issue, I have worked on legislation like SB25-0276, that expands data privacy not only to the state but also to municipalities and counties. I also support the proposal to make sure that Flock camera information is not accessed without a warrant. Also as we continue to work on strengthening safety nets we also must make sure our private information is not sold, shared or used to sell us good and services at a higher price.

Yes, we must continue to update nondiscrimination protections, specially when we see the Federal government targeting our LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities. We continue fighting for gender affirming care, access to abortion and reproductive rights as well as kids being able to be called by their chosen name in school.

We must continue to push back against federal pressure, as well as pushing our state providers to do better, as well as mandating insurance companies to cover gender affirming care. I am also working to help get the Graduated Income Tax question to the ballot, so we can fund healthcare and education.

I passed a law that made sure that kids could wear any clothes they chose for graduation, including indigenous regalia, their heritage pride like a mexican/american stole, and are able to also wear pride flag stoles or religious attire, in other states like Florida we saw attacks on trying to mandate that kids couldn't wear clothes that were gender affirming.

Some of the tactics we have used have been adding federal protections to our state statues in case they are repealed, we also continue to sue the trump administration and we have had wins and loses, this is the time for the state to protect our communities and it's so frustrating that we are also dealing with major budget deficits, the rich and corporations must pay their fair share so we can properly fund services and safety net programs so we don't leave anyone behind.

I wouldn't support exemptions.

I am the first queer Latina elected in the Western slope and I will continue to support and advocate for our communities as well as continue building coalitions and pushing orgs to get out of their silos.

View the rest of the endorsed candidates in the 2026 General Election and their answers here.