Colorado faces the potential loss of over $1 million in federal funding if it does not remove references to gender ideology from its sex education curriculum within the next two months. This demand comes from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which has issued a warning to 46 states, including Colorado, regarding federally funded Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) initiatives.The directive is part of the Trump administration’s broader policy to restrict inclusive sex education that references gender identity. The US government’s position has sparked controversy and drawn swift criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates and local organisations.Federal funding tied to removal of gender ideologyThe US Department of Health and Human Services has made it clear that Colorado must comply with the federal requirement to eliminate content related to gender ideology from its sex education programme. Failure to meet this demand could result in the state forfeiting more than $1 million in PREP grant money.Letters outlining these conditions were sent to 46 states, signalling a nationwide push from the Trump administration to reshape sex education standards. The PREP initiative supports education programmes that provide young people with knowledge about personal responsibility, including aspects of sexual health.LGBTQ+ advocates respond to federal demandThe directive has been met with concern and criticism from advocacy groups focused on protecting vulnerable students and promoting inclusive education. Nadine Bridges, Executive Director of One Colorado, described her reaction as one of heartbreak, stating, “We want all of our kids to have the freedom to learn, to be themselves, pursue their dreams in a safe environment, and the intentional erasure of trans and nonbinary gender expansive community members within sex education is just not where it should be,” as reported by 9news.Chris Castaneda Duran, senior youth programme manager at Rocky Mountain Equality, also raised concerns about the implications for students’ health and education. They emphasised that inclusive sex education is factually accurate and supports health equity, warning that removing such content would increase health disparities. “If they don’t have the information, how then are they going to prevent the issues that may arise due to the lack of information?” Castaneda Duran said, as quoted by 9news.Legal review and state response underwayOne Colorado is currently examining potential legal options should the state decide to comply with the federal directive. Bridges expressed hope that legal action would not be necessary, reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to defending transgender youth. “Colorado stands at the forefront of protecting transgender youth, and no matter how hard this administration or other people try to erase this community, they’re going to stand strong, be themselves, and One Colorado is going to stay in the fight to protect them,” she told 9news.The Colorado Department of Human Services confirmed it is reviewing the HHS letter and evaluating the next steps. The state’s Office of the Attorney General also acknowledged the receipt of the letter and stated it was under review, but declined to provide further comment.Concerns about federal interference in educationAdvocates emphasised the importance of local control over educational content, criticising the federal directive as an inappropriate intrusion into school board decisions. Bridges told 9news, “Colorado itself loves our freedom. Federal government making decisions to impact the decisions that school boards should be making is unacceptable.”Castaneda Duran described the federal action as “morally reprehensible” and warned it disproportionately harms LGBTQ+ students, particularly those who are transgender, nonbinary, or queer. They stated, “Holding our states hostage, holding, dangling, money over our heads to try and discriminate against our LGBTQ… is disgusting. It is violent,” as quoted by 9news.Local advocates are mobilising to ensure schools remain informed about state protections and laws governing inclusive education. The debate over sex education in Colorado reflects wider national tensions over LGBTQ+ rights and educational content under the current administration.
