Growing up in Colorado as a queer person was challenging and I often relied on access to communities online where I could safely be myself. Colorado’s Senate Bill 158 (SB-158) aims to protect Colorado’s youth, but in practice will prevent LGBTQ+ youth from accessing essential and often lifesaving information and resources.

The stated aim of the bill is to safeguard minors’ online experiences by implementing age verification requirements and mandating the removal of “sexual” content. Though this is a noble pursuit, the bill’s incredibly broad definition of what’s deemed “sexual” has the potential to erase LGBTQ+ communities and prevent youth from finding safe places online which I relied on when I was young. Young LGBTQ+ users depend upon these communities to build relationships and connect with other queer people. My perspective, shaped by being a queer Coloradan and my years of working to advance progressive causes, compels me to speak out about the unintended consequences of such legislation on people like me, who find these digital platforms to be social outlets and essential lifelines.

SB-158’s noble intention to protect minors online inadvertently creates barriers for more than 111,000 LGBTQ+ teenagers in Colorado. The bill’s mechanisms — age verification and parental controls — though aimed at safety, potentially serve access to crucial digital communities and resources that offer support, understanding and a sense of belonging to LGBTQ+ youth. These communities are critical to the survival of young people who often do not have an environment at home where they can be themselves.

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Central to this bill’s controversy is its patchwork approach to age verification, which is fraught with privacy implications for all users, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community who could be outed to non-supportive family and other community members. The requirement for government-issued IDs exposes all users’ sensitive private information through all-too-common data breaches.This is an infringement upon the privacy of LGBTQ+ people, who rely upon social media as a space to find community.

SB-158’s push for parental oversight is well-intentioned, but it has the potential to create dangerous environments for LGBTQ+ young people and cut off their access to supportive online communities. This bill has the potential to exacerbate feelings of isolation and mental health challenges among queer young people.

The legislation’s vague definitions around “sexual” content further complicate its impact, risking the unjust censorship of LGBTQ+ expressions under the guise of protection. As we navigate the complexities of protecting minors in the digital age, the case of SB-158 serves as a critical reminder of the need for empathy, inclusivity and foresight in legislation. Laws shaping our digital landscape must account for the diverse experiences of all users, particularly those at risk of marginalization. It’s a call to Colorado’s legislature — and indeed to lawmakers everywhere — to reevaluate such bills, ensuring they safeguard without inadvertently harming those most at risk.

Though SB-158’s aim to ensure an age-appropriate online experience for minors is noble, its execution requires we re-evaluate the unintended negative impact it would have LGBTQ+ Coloradans and the broader threats it poses to users’ private information. We must strive for legislation which protects minors without compromising their access to essential online spaces for identity and community support. I urge members of the Colorado legislature to vote no on SB-158.

Topher Williams is a small-business owner in Colorado and a board member of Cobalt.