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Fox News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Christian summer camp sues Colorado over new transgender rule
Print Close By Kristine Parks Published May 20, 2025 A Christian summer camp that has operated in Colorado for decades is suing the state over new state licensing requirements that the camp says violate its religious beliefs on gender and sexuality. Camp IdRaHaJe, which derives its name from the hymn, "I'd Rather Have Jesus," is a Christian children's summer camp for kids ages 6 to 17. The camp has served Colorado families of all faiths and backgrounds since 1948 and welcomes 2,500 to 3,000 campers each year. Camp IdRaHaJe filed a complaint in federal court on May 12 challenging new state licensing rules issued by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood that allegedly require children's resident camps to permit campers access to bathing, dressing and sleeping facilities that align with the camper's gender identity. The camp first tried to get a religious exemption, but the department denied their request, according to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the legal group representing Camp IdRaHaJe in court. COLORADO PARENTS UNLOAD ON LIBERAL LAWMAKERS, PROMPTING CHANGES TO CONTROVERSIAL GENDER BILL ADF claims that the regulations put children at risk and violate the free exercise, establishment, and equal protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution. "Every child deserves respect of privacy," ADF senior counsel Ryan Tucker told Fox News Digital, adding, "But that respect of privacy must extend equally to all students. No one should be forced to share a room or showering facilities with someone of the opposite sex." "The law ignores reality and children are the ones who ultimately pay the price," he continued. Tucker explained that new rules require the Christian camp to abandon its "own faith and mission" in order to continue operating in Colorado. COLORADO'S 'TOTALITARIAN' TRANSGENDERISM BILL SPARKS CONCERNS FROM PARENTS "The state of Colorado has been quite hostile to people of faith over the past several years," Tucker said, referencing other religious liberty lawsuits against the state which have gone all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. "In particular, they're trying to ram down this gender ideology to everyone in the state," he said. The complaint states that families choose to send their kids to IdRaHaJe because of its Christian "policies, programs and education," and that families must agree to follow its policies on sex-specific facilities at registration. Under the new state policy, the camp must choose between upholding its religious beliefs and mission or abandoning these in order to keep its license and continue operating the camp, according to the complaint. In June, the camp must certify it is complying with all the resident camp regulations and a licensing specialist will also be visiting to inspect the camp to see if it is in compliance, according to the complaint. Camp IdRaHaJe has decided to continue operating under its current policies even though this risks fines and the loss of its license to operate. ADF says other children's resident camps are also expressing concerns about the new state licensing requirements. The legal group is asking the court to declare that these regulations on gender identity are unconstitutional. "The government has no place telling religious summer camps that it's 'lights out' for upholding their religious beliefs about human sexuality," ADF legal counsel Andrea Dill also said in a statement. "Camp IdRaHaJe exists to present the truth of the Gospel to children who are building character and lifelong memories. But the Colorado government is putting its dangerous agenda—that is losing popularity across the globe—ahead of its kids. We are urging the court to allow IdRaHaJe to operate as it has for over 75 years: as a Christian summer camp that accepts all campers without fear of being punished for its beliefs." The Colorado Department of Early Childhood said it could not comment on the pending litigation. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP There have been several other high-profile religious liberty cases against the state in recent years that have been heard before the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2018, the high court ruled in favor of Colorado baker Jack Phillips, who was punished by the state after he refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. In another landmark case before the court in 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that Colorado's anti-discrimination law cannot force a graphic designer to make wedding websites for same-sex marriages. Print Close URL
Fox News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Colorado Christian summer camp sues state for requiring access to gender identity-friendly facilities
A Christian camp that has been operating since 1948 in Colorado is suing the state after the camp was told that it had to accommodate gender expression in bathrooms and a variety of other spaces. "They feel like they're honoring God in what they're doing, and I feel like they should do that, to operate in a way that's consistent with that," camp volunteer and mother Leah Rohwer told CBS News in an interview. The camp, known as Camp IdRaHaje, which is short for "I'd Rather Have Jesus," has refused to obey the state government's demands that it accommodate gender expression in camp facilities. It is a conflict that is personal for Rohwer, who told CBS that she has a family member who identifies as transgender. "I have a heart for the kids that feel like they don't fit in their body," Rohwer said. "I love those kids and I'm not saying anything bad about any of those kids or family members, whoever it might be, but I feel like we shouldn't stomp on someone's religious freedom to try and help those folks." "Camp IdRaHaJe has faithfully served and ministered to Colorado children of all backgrounds and faiths since 1948 and has successfully maintained its resident camp license since it first received one in 1995," camp Executive Director Mike DeBoer said in a statement. "The new policy of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, however, is asking IdRaHaJe to choose between upholding its Biblical beliefs about biological sex and risk losing its license or abandoning its beliefs and mission by forcing girls and boys to shower, dress, and share sleeping quarters with campers of the opposite sex. We are asking the court to allow us to operate consistent with our beliefs and protect our campers from a gender ideology agenda," he added. Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Andrea Dill, who is representing the camp, said in a statement, "The government has no place telling religious summer camps that it's 'lights out' for upholding their religious beliefs about human sexuality." "Camp IdRaHaJe exists to present the truth of the Gospel to children who are building character and lifelong memories. But the Colorado government is putting its dangerous agenda—that is losing popularity across the globe—ahead of its kids. We are urging the court to allow IdRaHaJe to operate as it has for over 75 years: as a Christian summer camp that accepts all campers without fear of being punished for its beliefs," she added. Lisa Roy, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, provided a statement to CBS, saying, "The Department will continue working in partnership with faith-based providers and camps within the confines of the law to ensure maximum participation. As I'm sure you understand, we cannot comment on active litigation." The Colorado Department of Early Childhood did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
