Colorado Voters to Decide on Gender-Affirming Surgery

Colorado voters will head to the polls on November 3, 2026, to vote on Proposition 135 regarding surgical restrictions.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in LGBTQand

Colorado Voters to Decide on Gender-Affirming Surgery

Live Poll

Should states prohibit healthcare professionals from performing gender-affirming surgeries on minors?

On November 3, 2026, Colorado voters will consider Proposition 135, which seeks to prohibit gender-affirming surgeries for minors and ban public or insurance funding for such procedures. The measure includes specific exceptions for male circumcision and conditions involving sex development disorders.

Why it matters

The measure aims to codify surgical prohibitions for minors into state law while simultaneously restricting funding sources like Medicaid and private insurance. Voters must decide whether to enact these permanent prohibitions or maintain existing regulatory frameworks for clinical practice.

Proposition 135 sets an age limit of 18 for prohibiting gender-altering surgeries. Research from 2019 indicates surgical frequency among minors is rare, occurring at 2.1 per 100,000 individuals for ages 15-17 within the study population.

The players

Colorado Voters

These residents of Colorado will participate in the November 3, 2026, election to determine the state's policy on surgical restrictions.

The details

Proposition 135 would strictly regulate clinical practice by banning the performance of sex-characteristic alteration surgeries on minors under 18. Additionally, the measure prohibits the use of state funds, federal funds, Medicaid, and private insurance for covering these procedures for all patients.

November 3, 2026: Colorado voters will cast their ballots on Proposition 135.
2019: Data for the study examining surgical frequency among youths was collected.

Culture Shift

This ballot measure represents a shift in Colorado's approach to gender-affirming care by attempting to codify specific surgical bans and funding prohibitions into state law. It reflects a broader national trend of voters directly engaging in the regulation of medical services for specific demographic groups.

The passage of Proposition 135 would directly alter access to gender-affirming surgeries for minors and remove coverage options for these procedures for all patients. Residents will see changes in how state funds and insurance policies are applied to specific medical treatments.

The takeaway

Voters are evaluating whether to change state law regarding the accessibility and insurance coverage of specific gender-affirming surgeries. Interested citizens should review the full text of the ballot measure to understand how it affects both clinical practice and healthcare funding.