Colorado passes new legislation protecting abortion seekers, gender-affirming care

Colorado is aiming to become a safe haven for those seeking abortions and gender-affirming care, passing a slew of new protective legislation.

Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed several health care bills into law Friday, which secure abortion access and medications for gender-affirming surgery.

The move comes as other Republican-dominated states, including those surrounding Colorado, continue to pass anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ legislation. Recently, Wyoming and Oklahoma have passed bans on abortion, while Utah severely restricted access to transgender care for minors.

However, even with Colorado’s new legislation, many states are now criminalizing traveling to states in order to access legal health care. The conflicting laws are setting the stage for similar interstate legal complications that courts experienced navigating same-sex marriage laws that existed until 2015.

Even still, the atmosphere at the Colorado governor’s office resembled that of a rally at times, with loud applause and other chants of approval. “We see you and in Colorado, we’ve got your back,” said Democratic Sen. Julie Gonzalez during the ceremony.

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With the new legislation, the state joins Illinois in becoming a “progressive peninsula,” that offers reproductive rights and is surrounded on three sides by conservative states.

Florida, a state which had previously been a haven for abortion-seekers passed a new ban on Friday, signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, which outlaws abortion after six weeks of pregnancy.

Colorado’s neighbor to the south, New Mexico, also passed a bill earlier this year which legally protects those seeking abortion or gender-affirming care from interstate investigations.

Similar to New Mexico’s law, the new Colorado law will block court summons, subpoenas and warrants from other states that decide to prosecute someone who sought medical care in their province. It also extends its protections to patients dodging transgender restrictions in their own states.

A separate bill passed by Gov. Polis on Friday will also require large employers to cover the cost of an abortion, with an exception for those who object on a religious basis.

Public employers will also be exempt because Colorado’s constitution prohibits public funds from being used for abortions.

With News Wire Services