Manny Rutinel, a state legislator and Democratic candidate for Colorado's 8th Congressional District, is facing criticism for his vote on a bill that requires courts to consider pronoun use in child custody decisions. The legislation, known as the Kelly Loving Act, initially instructed courts to deem "deadnaming" and "misgendering" as forms of coercive control when determining parental responsibilities.
Rutinel's past support for the bill is drawing attention as he campaigns against incumbent Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., in a closely contested race. Zach Bannon, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, stated, "Far-left liberal Manny Rutinel wants the government to take away your kids if you don’t adopt his radical transgender agenda. Disgusting and disqualifying. Rutinel will be resoundingly rejected by Coloradans this fall."
Rutinel's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the bill or his reasons for supporting it.
The Kelly Loving Act, named in honor of a transgender woman who was a victim of the 2022 Club Q mass shooting, addresses various aspects of gender identity. It allows for changes to sex designations on official documents and directs educational institutions to include all reasons a student might use a name different from their legal one. The bill also initially classified the publication of materials that misgender a person as a discriminatory practice.
The bill passed the Colorado House of Representatives with a 40-24 vote. However, it faced opposition from groups such as the Colorado Parent Advocacy Network, which filed lawsuits citing First Amendment concerns and arguing that the act's definition of "gender expression" was unconstitutionally broad.
While the bill was signed into law in May 2025, some of its more contentious provisions, including those related to misgendering, were removed weeks after Rutinel's vote. Legal challenges related to the act are still ongoing.
Rutinel secured the Democratic nomination for his congressional bid last week and is set to face Evans in the general election on November 3. Evans won his seat in 2024 by a narrow margin.