Trans Resource Navigator

Colorado

ID documents
Protective
Care
Protective
Shield lawA state law that protects patients and providers of gender-affirming care from investigations, subpoenas, or extradition attempts by states that ban that care.
Yes, protects care

Colorado's laws are among the most protective for trans people.

More about Colorado

Name changes for gender identity need no newspaper publication (though you must get a fingerprint background check), and driver's licenses and birth certificates offer M, F, or X by self-attestation. Health First Colorado and state-regulated private plans cover gender-affirming care, and a 2023 shield law protects patients and providers. Youth care is the exception: major hospitals stopped prescribing to minors in 2026 under federal pressure, Medicaid coverage for minors ends October 13, 2026, and a ballot measure on surgery for minors is before voters in November 2026.

This state’s pages are drafts written from official sources and not yet checked by a person. What this means

Your documents, in order

Most people go in this order, because each office checks the one before it. On every document, updating your name and changing your gender marker are separate questions with separate answers.

  1. Legal name changeState court
    Name
    YesNo newspaper notice, hearing sometimes
  2. Social SecurityFederal, same in every state
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now
  3. Driver's license / state IDColorado DMV
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    YesM, F, or X with your own signed form
  4. US passportFederal, same in every state
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now
  5. Birth certificateOnly if born in Colorado
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    YesM, F, or X with your own signed form

Born somewhere other than Colorado? Your birth certificate follows the state where you were born. Choose your birth state

Gender-affirming care

Adults
Allowed
Under 18
Limited
Gender-affirming care is legal for adults and minors under Colorado law, and a 2023 shield law protects patients and providers.Find clinics, health centers, telehealth, and ways to pay

Local help

Statewide organizations

  • Colorado Name Change Project[5]

    Volunteer nonprofit with free automated court forms, gender marker guides, workshops, and microgrants for trans and nonbinary Coloradans.

    • Free

  • The Center on Colfax[6]

    Denver LGBTQ center with trans support groups, free therapy for LGBTQ+ adults, on-site fingerprinting for name changes, and legal referrals. 303-733-7743.

    • Free
    303-733-77431301 E. Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80218

  • One Colorado[7]

    Statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy organization that tracks legislation and ballot measures affecting trans Coloradans.

    • Free
    303-396-6170

  • Trans Lifeline[8]

    Peer-support hotline run by and for trans people, 877-565-8860. Also runs microgrants for ID document costs when funding allows.

    • Free
    877-565-8860
Sources for this page (8)

Sources

8 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.

  1. SB23-188 (2023), Protections for Accessing Reproductive Health Care (shield law covering gender-affirming care)Colorado General Assembly, Law. accessed
  2. HB19-1039 (2019), Identity Documents for Transgender Persons (Jude's Law)Colorado General Assembly, Law. accessed
  3. Identity document laws and policiesMovement Advancement Project, Organization. accessed
  4. Healthcare laws and policiesMovement Advancement Project, Organization. accessed
  5. Colorado Name Change ProjectOrganization. accessed
  6. The Center on ColfaxOrganization. accessed
  7. One ColoradoOrganization. accessed
  8. Trans LifelineOrganization. accessed