Colorado Governor-elect Phil Weiser is reportedly already discussing plans with leading Democrats to tweak four ballot measures passed in the election. The measures deal with controversial subjects, such as restrictions affecting young transgender people, and the plans have ignited backlash against Weiser and the Democratic Party of Colorado online.
As reported by the Colorado Sun, Democrats want to tweak Propositions 132, 133, 134, and 135. While 132 and 133 deal with harsher penalties for fentanyl distribution and sex trafficking, Propositions 134 and 135 seem to be the real focus of the debate.
The controversial Proposition 134 would give schools the right to check students’ biological sex to determine whether they can participate in sports, while Proposition 135 would prohibit gender-affirming surgeries for minors.
Weiser and other local Democrats deem these measures “anti-trans” and want to “provide a much more human and sound approach.” Critics interviewed by the media outlet criticized Weiser, arguing that actions like these could disregard the will of the voters.
Colorado Residents Are Divided on Phil Weiser’s Plans
Even on more liberal-leaning social media networks, such as Reddit, which tend to be more positive about topics such as transgender rights, the discussion became heated quite quickly.
On r/Colorado, one user wrote: “The citizens of Colorado voted, and we have legitimate outcomes. You don’t get to throw a tantrum because you didn’t get everything you wanted.” Another person argued: “Don’t [expletive] with the vote even if you don’t like it. This is not how democracy works.”
Defenders of Weiser compared the anti-trans measures to racist legislation in the South: “Southerners voted to deny people civil rights. That didn’t hold either.” Others disagreed, however: “It didn’t hold because we introduced (and democratically voted for) new legislation that made it illegal to deny people civil rights.”
Some users were seemingly bitter that these topics would get so many people arguing, though: “It’s truly unbelievable to me how much some of you have drunk the Kool-Aid on trans people. I encourage you to go out and meet someone who these props would impact. Have a conversation with the human being and see if you can still find this level of hatred in your hearts.”
As new politicians take office in Colorado, it remains to be seen how the planned legislative changes will play out in 2027.
