For 13-year-old Ashlynn, an eighth grader in Denver, the election results landed hard. "I was a little hopeful before Election Day," she said. "But then I just felt defeated when I found out the next day." Ashlynn, who came out as transgender in middle school, had considered trying out for gymnastics or swimming in high school. Now, she says, "that's just kind of out of the question. It would expose me if I had to be on a team of boys and I would feel exposed going through a gender check."

The measure requires that participation in school sports from kindergarten through higher education be based on whether a student's body "produces eggs or sperm." It does not specify whether districts would rely on cheek swabs, genital exams, or some other method, nor who would perform such checks or bear the cost. Those unanswered questions have left districts—the entities ultimately responsible for enforcement—without clear direction.

Denver Public Schools spokesperson Scott Pribble said the district is committed to supporting students while following state law. "This is something that's new for Denver Public Schools and many school districts around the state," he said. A survey of nearly two dozen districts across Colorado found none with definitive implementation plans; several said they are waiting on guidance from the Colorado High School Athletics Association (CHSAA), which governs school sports statewide. A CHSAA spokesperson said the group will meet with the state education department and review its bylaws in the coming weeks. "Like every member school, CHSAA must comply with the new law," the spokesperson said.

Because Proposition 134 is a statutory law rather than a constitutional amendment, the legislature can modify it without returning to voters. Governor-elect Phil Weiser has signaled he intends to do so. "We're going to have to take a look at these anti-trans measures and what adjustments are necessary and appropriate," Weiser said at a post-election press conference. "I don't believe it would be acceptable to Colorado to have every student athlete have to go through full body examinations or other invasions of privacy."

For Ashlynn's mother, Elisabeth, the vote has eroded trust. "It hurts to see that people who voted for other progressive causes didn't also vote with the trans community," she said. "We hoped that Colorado would live up to this promise as a safe place." As the January deadline approaches, families like Ashlynn's and districts across the state are left waiting for answers that may not come until the legislature convenes.