Below are past bills and the outcomes –
Comprehensive Human Sexuality Education
HB19-1032 – updated 4/1/2019
Link to Bill – http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb19-1032
Summary from the Bill
“The bill clarifies content requirements for public schools that offer comprehensive human sexuality education and prohibits instruction from explicitly or implicitly teaching or endorsing religious ideology or sectarian tenets or doctrines, using shame-based or stigmatizing language or instructional tools, employing gender norms or gender stereotypes, or excluding the relational or sexual experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals. ”
A few points to consider –
- Promotes youth understanding of all types of sexual orientations as normal.
- Includes explicit information about the use of abortifacients, condoms, and other barrier methods.
- Any instruction must not employ gender norms or gender stereotypes. Is it possible to teach biblical sexuality without talking in terms of male and female?
- When talking about healthy relationships, LGBTQ relationships must have equal footing with heterosexual relationships. All experiences must be shared equally
- Opt-out is now required instead of having to opt-in.
- Affects both public and charter schools.
Despite overwhelming opposition to the bill (over 300 people testified to the bill over 8 hours), the committee passed the bill 7-4 along party lines.
Status
The bill was heard by the Senate committee and passed on to Senate Appropriations. The bill will likely be heard by the Appropriations Committee this week and then be heard by the Senate for a second reading (last chance to amend the bill).
Please call (303-866-4884) or email (don.coram.senate@state.co.us) bill sponsor Senator Don Coram and ask him to remove his support from this overreaching bill.
Prohibit Conversion Therapy for A Minor
HB19-1129 – Updated 4/5/2019
Link to bill – http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb19-1129
Summary
The bill prohibits a licensed physician specializing in psychiatry or a licensed, certified, or registered mental health care provider from engaging in conversion therapy with a patient under 18 years of age. A licensee who engages in these practices is subject to disciplinary action by the appropriate licensing board. The bill also makes the advertising or practice of conversion therapy by a physician or mental health care provider a deceptive trade practice under the “Colorado Consumer Protection Act”. “Conversion therapy” means efforts to change an individual’s sexual orientation, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward individuals of the same sex.
Basically, parents would only be able to send their child who is expressing homosexual behavior or gender dysphoria to a therapist that will affirm those behaviors. Christian therapists would not be able to speak the truth of what God says about sexuality or gender. This bill infringes on the following unalienable rights: parental rights and right of conscience. This is a dangerous slippery slope and must be stopped! Please contact the members below to let them know you oppose this policy
Status
Was passed into law on Friday the 5th and will go to the Governor to be signed. We will need to watch closely to see how this affects churches speaking on the subject and also see if the Legislature expands on the reach of this bill next year.
Youth Mental Health Education And Suicide Prevention
HB19-1120
Link to bill – http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb19-1120
Summary
The bill allows a minor 12 years of age or older to seek and obtain psychotherapy services with or without the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian.
Status
The bill is currently in the House Appropriations before going to the House floor for a second reading.
Find my legislators – https://leg.colorado.gov/findmylegislator