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'It's a shame': Internet furious at Colorado's decision to legalize teen transgender treatment tourism

'Here in Colorado, we value individual freedoms, and we stand up to protect them,' said Guv Jared Polis

DENVER, COLORADO: Colorado is set to become the first state to constitutionally protect teen transgender treatment tourism as a result of a three new bills that have been approved by its Democratic governor. The recently passed laws mean that healthcare professionals cannot be sued by residents of red states that forbid gender-affirming medicine and surgery from providing care in Colorado.

It turns out that Colorado is now a shelter for minors with gender dysphoria who are seeking sex change procedures, hormone therapy, and puberty blockers that have been outlawed in more than a dozen Republican states. Jared Polis, the Democratic governor, signed three fresh laws that make Colorado an ideal place for those seeking abortions and those seeking transgender healthcare services.

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What are the three new bills?

One of the precautions would prohibit the state from participating in any investigations or lawsuits involving individuals who receive or assist with abortions or purportedly "gender-affirming care." Another would require insurance companies to fully cover all abortions, except for those who object on religious grounds. The third law prohibits crisis pregnancy clinics from using techniques that pro-lifers and Democrats consider "deceptive" to persuade mothers to forego abortion, as per Fox News.

What did Guv Polis say about the new laws?

Leading US medical authorities support so-called "gender-affirming care" for young people, but conservatives and other specialists argue that children are too young to undergo permanent body alterations. The three laws, which Gov. Jared Polis approved on Friday, protect healthcare providers from lawsuits filed by neighboring states whose citizens visit Colorado for abortions, according to Daily Mail.

'We value individual freedoms'

The red states that strongly prohibit abortions and transgender care for children include the bordering states of Wyoming and Oklahoma. Guv Polis stated, "Here in Colorado, we value individual freedoms, and we stand up to protect them…I’m excited by the work of advocates and legislators to further Colorado’s reputation as a beacon of freedom, a beacon of choice, a beacon of individuality where we live our own lives on our own terms in a Colorado for all."

'This Colorado bill violates First Amendment rights'

Democratic state Sen Julie Gonzales, a supporter of the bills said, "We see you and in Colorado, we’ve got your back." The bills, according to the bishops, including Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila, violate the Constitution by "forcing all Coloradans to pay for abortion in their insurance premiums, violating parental rights by removing parental notification if their minor receives an abortion or abortion referral, and forcing private employers to pay for and medical centers to perform abortion and so-called "gender-affirming care."

Conservatives, meanwhile, have resisted liberal attempts to facilitate interstate travel for people with limited healthcare options. For instance, the Republican-controlled state of Idaho is the first to adopt legislation specifically banning some out-of-state travel for abortions. The Republican minority-led bills were the subject of lengthy deliberations in Colorado that lasted more than 29 hours. Democrats strengthened constitutional safeguards for free interstate travel when state and federal lawmakers began referring to contentious healthcare travel as "abortion tourism."

In a Newsweek op-ed last week, Jim Daly, the president of Focus on the Family, voiced similar worries. "This Colorado bill violates First Amendment rights and prohibits women from pursuing life-saving care for their child from a chemical abortion," he noted. Daly added, "Tragically, it is likely to be the first of many pro-abortion bills passed across the country."

HMany people don't appear to be pleased with the new bills on the Internet. A user tweeted, "They went Down, down down to the ring of fire, ring of fire." Another user wrote, "Don’t move to Colorado or Washington." One person said, "It's a shame what Colorado has turned into..." Another person mentioned, "Freak legalization." One person responded saying, "States rights and freedom, two things conservatives love so there shouldn’t be a problem, correct?" Another claimed,"Good. If you disagree, move to Florida." 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.