In three states, voters will soon encounter ballot measures aimed at safeguarding women’s sports from transgender athletes and restricting gender transitions for minors.
States including Colorado, Missouri, and Maine are preparing to include these issues in the upcoming midterm elections.
In Colorado, the group Protect Kids Colorado has successfully gathered enough signatures to put three initiatives on the ballot: Initiative 108, Initiative 109, and Initiative 110.
According to reports, Initiative 108 proposes life imprisonment without parole for individuals involved in child sex trafficking. Meanwhile, Initiative 109 would prohibit transgender kids from competing in sports that don’t align with their biological sex.
Initiative 110 aims to ban surgeries aimed at changing a child’s biological sex, as well as restrict the use of state or federal funding, including Medicaid, for any sexual reassignment procedures for minors.
The LGBTQ organization Rocky Mountain Equality described this as an attack on families in Colorado. Conversely, Erin Lee, director of Protect Kids Colorado, emphasized her group’s mission to empower “everyday Coloradoans” to take action on behalf of children.
“This citizen-led legislative process is about restoring common-sense policies and protecting our kids,” Lee asserted.
A recent SLU/YouGov poll conducted in Missouri between February 9 and 22 indicated mixed feelings among voters. While some elements of an abortion ban were unpopular, roughly 67% expressed opposition to administering sex-change medications to minors.
Public opinion surveys revealed that certain aspects of the amendment related to abortion restrictions were met with backlash. Nearly 60% of Missourians supported the allowance of abortions up to 8 weeks, and 47% favored those up to 12 weeks.
However, the amendment’s provisions barring transgender youth from access to puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and sex-reassignment surgeries received substantial support, with 67% opposed to the use of sex-change drugs for minors and 73% against sex-reassignment surgery.
In Maine, Secretary of State Shena Bellows confirmed that an initiative addressing transgender participation in sports and bathroom access had also gathered sufficient support for the ballot. This initiative is set to advance “ahead of the state Legislature” and will likely be put directly before voters.
