Rocky Mountain Equality Responds to Ballot Certification of Sports Ban Initiative

The Colorado Secretary of State’s validation of signatures for Ballot Initiative #109 confirms that Colorado voters will vote on this measure targeting LGBTQ+ youth in November 2026. 

“This measure is not rooted in Colorado values, and similar policies have been rejected by the state legislature multiple times,” said Mardi Moore, chief executive officer of Rocky Mountain Equality. “This is an attack on Colorado families modeled after national extremist efforts. Coloradans believe in fairness, freedom, and the right of every person to live their lives. We will work tirelessly between now and November to make sure voters understand exactly what this effort is about. It’s about bullying little kids and taking opportunities away from a handful of people.”

Initiative #109, deceptively titled “Male and Female Participation in School Sports,” would ban transgender youth of any age from participating in school sports with their peers. If passed, it would make Colorado one of a growing number of states to legislate transgender youth out of a core part of childhood: school sports. Research consistently shows that exclusion from sports and extracurricular activities causes significant harm to the mental health and social development of LGBTQ+ youth.

"Sports have always been about more than competition,” said Kurt Weaver, executive director of You Can Play, an international organization that works with athletes, coaches, and associations to promote inclusive sport. “They're about belonging, growth, and the lessons that only come from being part of a team. Every young person deserves the chance to experience that. When we start drawing lines around who gets to participate, we don't just exclude individuals, we diminish the sport itself and the communities built around it."

Rocky Mountain Equality is mobilizing its network of advocates, community members, and partners through the Hands Off Colorado campaign. The campaign will focus on voter education, grassroots organizing, and coalition-building with educators, parents, and faith communities.