Conservatives took some lumps in Colorado elections this month, no doubt about it. But there were some encouraging results as well that I want to make sure are on your radar screen.

Besides the high-profile contests, Family Policy Alliance was especially involved in key state Senate races this fall. That’s so important because, since the Democrats took over the Senate in 2018, there has been no firewall to protect us from Gov. Polis’s radical policy agenda.

To be clear, the predictions this year were that Democrats and their abortion allies would gain seats – possibly so many that reclaiming the Senate in future years would be nearly impossible. The reason for those predictions is that the seats up this year tend to be more challenging than the other half that will be up in 2022. Plus, we were still operating under the partisan gerrymandering (district lines) that made the composition of districts very difficult for conservatives.

The Outcome: Family Policy Alliance engaged in seven senate races, winning five. Best of all, the four races we were most focused on all went to the more conservative candidate!

The Impact: With your support, we reached 150,000 households in those districts with a variety of messaging – mailers, digital ads, major texting campaigns and more.

Frankly, we were stunned by the impact, particularly of the digital ads. These fair but hard-hitting comparison ads went viral in several districts. For example, an ad in one of the districts – which focused on the liberal candidate and the push to allow biological males to compete in girls’ sports – was shared more than 2,000 times and reeived literally tens of thousands of supportive comments and reactions. The conservative candidate came from behind to win by just one percent (fewer than 1,000 votes).

The Future: Because of these results, conservatives only need to win back three seats in 2022 to regain control of the Senate. With a better set of seats up then – and with new district lines that are projected to be vastly improved – the prospects are very encouraging.

Until then, if you’re a pro-family conservative in Colorado, get ready to stand strong and take action! The attacks will continue in 2021, and it’s so important that we lovingly but boldly speak the truth on behalf of the babies, the students and the families who are so harmed by the far Left’s agenda in our state.

Yours for a better Colorado,

John Paulton
Mobilization Manager

Thank you for being an engaged Colorado citizen! To help keep you informed, here’s a quick update on urgent legislative and other activity in our state.

First, here’s an update on LEGISLATION:

Three key bills to protect kids from the Left’s agenda are going to be heard at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow in the House State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee.

Would you take a moment to urge the House committee members to vote YES on these bills?

• HB 1114,“Protection of Minors from Mutilation and Sterilization Act,” would protect children from transgender medical experimentation that results in profound and irreversible changes to kids’ bodies – including infertility and mutilation of functional and healthy body parts. Nearly all children (80-95 percent) outgrow their gender confusion by the time they reach adulthood – without these harmful and irreversible medical interventions.
• HB 1144, “Parents’ Bill of Rights,”would protect parents’ constitutional rights to make decisions for their child in health care, education and more. It also prohibits the government from encouraging children to keep information secret from their parents (a trend we’re seeing more and more across the country) and prohibits the state from taking children away from parents because of the parents’ objection to radical medical interventions.
• HB 1273, “Equality and Fairness in Sports,” would prohibit boys from competing on girls’ sport teams, even if he says he’s a girl. Allowing boys to play on girls’ sports teams is fundamentally unfair, placing them at a biological disadvantage. It also exposes girls to a much higher risk of being harmed, and it deprives girls of opportunities for playing time, awards and scholarships.

You can send an email message to each of the committee members in just 30 seconds on our Action Center.

Second, here’s an update on the PRO-LIFE INITIATIVE:

 As you may know, Colorado is among a small minority of states that allows abortions up to and on a baby’s due date, for any reason. That’s why the Coalition of Women and Children is leading a grassroots movement named “Due Date Too Late” – a colossal effort of churches and pro-life organizations like Colorado Family Action – to place on the November ballot a ban on abortions after 22 weeks. But they need your help!

Due Date Too Late needs to collect and submit 200,000 signatures of Colorado registered voters by March 4. If they meet this goal, all Colorado voters will get to decide on Election Day if they want to finally ban these barbaric late-term abortions. Here’s how you can help:

Due Date Too Late will have a “Signature Blitz” on Saturday, February 15, with multiple locations for you to sign the petition.  To see available locations and additional dates, visit Duedatetoolate.com. If you have any questions or want to do more to help, please reach out to Giuliana Day at 720-899-0897.

Thanks for making a difference!

Sincerely,

Stephanie Curry, Esq.
Policy Manager

On Friday, the Colorado Legislature finished the 2019 session, but not before passing three more bills that undermine the family. The bills are on their way to Gov. Polis, so we are asking to you to speak up to him right away!

Here are the three bills:

• HB 1032 is the radical sex-ed bill that we’ve been telling you about and that you may have taken action on. The legislature added a few amendments that are mostly just window dressing. Nearly every problem that we’ve told you about still exists, including requiring that children be taught about the medical means of gender transition, such as cross-sex hormones, drugs that stop the natural onset of puberty, and even irreversible sex-change operations.
• HB 1120 allows kids as young as 12 to get mental health treatment without parental knowledge, permission or involvement. This undermines parents and encourages the hiding of dangerous activities that parents should be aware of.
• HB 1192 creates a new graduation requirement for Colorado public school students – that they learn about the “history, culture and social contributions” of “lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.” This pushes the LGBT agenda on our kids, and it sexualizes historical teaching.

As you may be aware, Gov. Polis has a history of radical, LGBT activism. However, regardless of what he is likely to do with these bills, it’s critical that he hears from thousands of Coloradans who oppose them. Without strong opposition from Coloradans, he will likely feel that he has a license to push even harder next year.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Send him an email on these three bills with just a click at our Action Center.
2. Call his office at (303) 866-2471 and politely ask him to veto House Bills 1032, 1120 and 1192.
3. Please pass the word and rally other Colorado folks to do the same!

Thank you for speaking up and standing strong!

The Family Policy Alliance Team

The Colorado sex-ed bill that we’ve been telling you about has been delayed but is about to be considered by another committee. On Tuesday, it is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee – the last hurdle before going to the full Senate.

Please make your voice heard to this committee. You can send a note to the full committee in just moments at our Action Center.

Please also consider calling the members of the committee, especially these senators:

Sen. Mike Foote – (303) 866-5291
Sen. Julie Gonzales – (303) 866-4862
Sen. Pete Lee – (303) 866-6364
Sen. Dominick Moreno – (303) 866-4857
Sen. Robert Rodriguez – (303) 866-4852
Sen. Rachel Zenzinger – (303) 866-4840

Just ask them to vote against HB 1032, the sex ed bill.

As a reminder, here are some of the continued problems with the bill:

• It promotes abortion to Colorado school kids.

That’s right. There is so much that’s so bad about HB 1032 that little attention has been given to the fact that it requires that sex-ed programs teach children about abortion-inducing drugs. And, if the school opts to teach pregnancy outcomes, the school must cover abortion and present it equally with any other pregnancy outcome.

• It still requires schools to teach children about “gender identity,” including the medical means of gender transition such as drugs that stop the natural onset of puberty, cross-sex hormones, and even sex-change operations.

Parents from Boulder testified about similar programs in their child’s school – and how it “felt like the teacher was a preacher trying to convert” their 6-year-old to transgender. Expect more of the same statewide if HB 1032 becomes law.

• There is NO requirement that parents be notified if the topic of “gender identity” is covered outside of sex education.

While HB 1032 does require that parents be notified when children will be taught sexual education, there is no requirement that parents be notified when programming on gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation occurs outside of a specific “sex education” class.

• Children as young as nine will be taught how to “consent” to sex acts.

This bill sets up scenarios where children as young as nine are taught how to “consent” to sexual acts. Can children that young really give meaningful consent?

• It overrides local control of school districts, mandating this radical version of sexual education on every public school, including charter schools.

Proponents claim that the bill does not override local control for school districts because it allows schools to choose between teaching 1032’s radical new proposal or declining to teach even a simple biology-focused sex education program. That’s hardly a real choice.

Thank you for taking action!

The Family Policy Alliance Team

We hope the outcry in Colorado continues to encourage parents in other states around the country to stay informed about what’s being taught in their children’s classrooms—and to do everything they can to protect their children from harmful ideology.

Stephanie Curry, Family Policy Alliance Policy Manager, wrote a guest column for The Daily Signal recently – Read her entire article: Colorado Sex Ed Bill Would Force Kids to Learn LGBT Ideology, Ban Talk of Abstinence

Once you have read Stephanie’s article, take action and let your Colorado State Senator know that you oppose the Sex Ed Bill. It is easy to make your voice heard in our Action Center!

The infamous Colorado sex-ed bill passed a Senate committee by one vote last week – putting it one step away from a full Senate vote.

Action is needed! Please scroll down for steps you can take.

While the committee passed several amendments to the bill, the substance of it remains essentially unchanged. Here’s where it stands:

1. It promotes abortion to Colorado school kids.That’s right. There is so much that’s so bad about HB 1032 that little attention has been given to the fact that it requires that sex-ed programs teach children about abortion-inducing drugs. And, if the school opts to teach pregnancy outcomes, the school must cover abortion and present it equally with any other pregnancy outcome.
2. It still requires schools to teach children about “gender identity,” including the medical means of gender transition such as drugs that stop the natural onset of puberty, cross-sex hormones, and even sex-change operations.Parents from Boulder testified last week about similar programs in their child’s school – and how it “felt like the teacher was a preacher trying to convert” their 6-year-old to transgender. Expect more of the same statewide if HB 1032 becomes law.
3. There is NO requirement that parents be notified if the topic of “gender identity” is covered outside of sex education.While HB 1032 does require that parents be notified when children will be taught sexual education, there is no requirement that parents be notified when programming on gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation occurs outside of a specific “sex education” class.
4. Children as young as nine will be taught how to “consent” to sex acts.This bill sets up scenarios where children as young as nine are taught how to “consent” to sexual acts. Can children that young really give meaningful consent?
5. It overrides local control of school districts, mandating this radical version of sexual education on every public school, including charter schools.Proponents claim that the bill does not override local control for school districts because it allows schools to choose between teaching 1032’s radical new proposal or declining to teach even a simple biology-focused sex education program. That’s hardly a real choice.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Please call your state senator and urge him or her to OPPOSE HB 1032. Just click here to get your state senator’s name and phone number. Enter your zip code and then select the Colorado tab to find your state senator.
• Please also call Senate President Leroy Garcia and urge him to stop HB 1032 from coming to a vote. His phone number is (303) 866-4878.
• If you haven’t yet sent an email to your state senator, you can do that here in addition to a call.

And, as always, please keep spreading the word! Thanks for your prayers and action on behalf of our kids!

The Family Policy Alliance Team

The Colorado House passed the horrific sex-ed bill sending it on to the Senate. That was expected. But the debate on the floor of the House was stunning with legislators claiming that Colorado schools were not adequately pro-LGBT and that God was not present in the House chamber. The bill is appalling, and the decorum has been worse.

Because of the nature of this debate and what is at stake, our partners at Colorado Family Action are hosting a prayer meeting around the Capital building on February 27th from noon to 1pm. Participants are encouraged to also make time to visit the Capitol after the walk to meet with their legislators.

Here is what you need to know:

Colorado Capitol Prayer Meeting
February 27, 2018
Noon – 1:00 PM

On the public sidewalk surrounding the capitol building

Capitol Building:
200 E. Colfax Ave.
Denver, 80203

After the Prayer Meeting Visit Your Legislator

General Instructions:

1. To find your Colorado State Senator, go to the Family Policy Alliance Action Center and input your zipcode and/or address to find your legislator’s Capitol office location
2. Pre-write a card thank your senator for their work and asking them to vote no on HB1032
3. Clearly present your position on the bill if you get to speak directly with your senator: (i.e.: I am here today to ask for your “NO” vote on HB1032)
4. Use the HB1032 talking points as evidence to support your position (see below)
5. Thank the legislator for their time

Parking:

Click HERE to view a Google parking map.

Entering the Capitol:

North entrance (Colfax Avenue and Sherman Street), first floor public and group entrance.
South entrance (14th Avenue and Sherman Street), basement (ground) level visitors with special needs should use this entrance.

Please Note:

• Upon entering the building each person passes through a security check. Please do not bring firearms, knives or other weaponry.
• Signs, banners, clapping and cheering are not permitted inside the galleries or committee hearing rooms.

Talking Points:

• It tells local school districts that on sex education, it’s “our way or the highway.” That’s not a choice for local schools—it’s a threat. And it violates the state constitution’s protection of local school boards having the sole authority to determine curriculum what we as parents elect them to do.
• It makes clear that families whose faith influences their views on sexuality, and those who view a person’s sex as a biological fact, are NOT welcome in Colorado schools. In fact, it censors religious beliefs or traditional views on sex and sexuality.
• It not only discourages parents from being involved—it’s a hostile takeover of parental rights. The bill provides no clear way for parents to opt their children out of the state’s preferred sexuality curriculum. Parents have the absolute right to teach their children about healthy relationships and sexual values.
• It displays a strange obsession with whom our children are sexually attracted to, how often they’re having sex, and what kind of sex they’re having. Yet factually, most of our students are not having sex with anyone. The number of youth having sex has dropped significantly since the ‘80’s and even more in the past 10 years, with the majority of teens choosing abstinence.
• This bill forces children as young as nine-years-old to learn graphic details about LGBT “sexual experiences.”

We hope to see you there!

The Family Policy Alliance Team

I wish you could have been in the Colorado capitol a little while ago.

The Colorado House passed the horrific sex-ed bill – sending it on to the Senate. That was expected. But the debate on the floor of the House was stunning:

• The sponsor of the bill attacked Christianity and openly stated that sex education in Colorado schools is not adequately pro-LGBT, but that this bill would fix that.
• One representative – who identifies as lesbian and supports the bill – referred to God, saying, “He is NOT in this room!” That drew gasps and responses.
• Meanwhile, several opponents spoke eloquently against the bill, including one who said, “I’m sending out an SOS to the people of Colorado!”

Indeed, an SOS is needed now. After all, here’s what this bill (HB 1032) does:

• It tells local school districts that on sex education, it’s “our way or the highway.” That’s not a choice for local schools—it’s a threat. And it violates the state constitution’s protection of local school boards having the sole authority to determine curriculum – what we as parents elect them to do.
• It makes clear that families whose faith influences their views on sexuality, and those who view a person’s sex as a biological fact, are NOT welcome in Colorado schools. In fact, it censors religious beliefs or traditional views on sex and sexuality.
• It not only discourages parents from being involved—it’s a hostile takeover of parental rights. The bill provides no clear way for parents to opt their children out of the state’s preferred sexuality curriculum. Parents have the absolute right to teach their children about healthy relationships and sexual values.
• It displays a strange obsession with whom our children are sexually attracted to, how often they’re having sex, and what kind of sex they’re having. Yet factually, most of our students are not having sex – with anyone. The number of youth having sex has dropped significantly since the ‘80’s and even more in the past 10 years, with the majority of teens choosing abstinence.
• This bill forces children as young as nine-years-old to learn graphic details about LGBT “sexual experiences.”

Now the Good News: Momentum is building to stop this bill, and the Senate gives more hope to do that. In addition, there was progress today, as a Democrat (Donald Valdez) voted against the bill, joining Republicans who were united in opposition. In the Senate, we’ll need two Democrats to join all Republicans in opposition.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

• Please email your state senator. Your message will also go to Senate President Leroy Garcia, so he can also see the strong opposition from all over the state.
• After you send the email, watch for a follow-up message with the name and phone number of your state senator. Please also call them, mentioning that you live in their district and asking them to vote NO on HB 1032.
• Please continue to spread the word, including sharing by email and social media.

Yes, this is an SOS. Thank you so much for heeding the call!

Autumn Leva
Vice President of Strategy

The controversial Colorado bill that would require that Colorado students learn about “the sexual experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, [and] transgender individuals” is about to be voted on by your state representative.

House Bill 1032, which we’ve been telling you about, is likely to be voted on in the Colorado House on Thursday. Though the bill is likely to pass the House, it is still vital that representatives hear from their people en masse.

We’ve seen it before, including last year in California: When the people make their voice heard at every vote – every juncture of the bill’s journey through the legislature – terrible bills like this one can eventually be defeated through growing controversy. Our best hope for winning is in the state Senate, but to do that we need to make our voices heard right now in the House!

Despite claims you may have heard in the media, this bill is still just as bad as ever. It still mandates that students are taught about LGBT sexual experiences. And it still forbids any teaching that even implicitly calls to mind moral teaching that has a negative view on such conduct.

Family Policy Alliance and our state ally, Colorado Family Action, continue to fight this assault on Colorado kids.  Will you join us today by taking action?

Here’s what you can do:

1. Please send a note to your state representative. We’ve made it simple on our Action Center. You can send it there in just seconds.
2. After you’ve sent your note, you’ll get a follow-up message with your state representative’s phone number. Please take a moment to call and politely leave a message asking them to oppose HB 1032.
3. Share with others. Let’s build the momentum and raise an unmistakable chorus that can’t be avoided in the halls of the capitol!

Thanks for your prayers, your action and for spreading the word!

The Family Policy Alliance Team

The first step in the fight to stop a radical sex education bill in the Colorado legislature came to an end late Wednesday night. The House Health & Insurance Committee voted to advance the bill.

But the real story throughout the 10-hour hearing was the overwhelming turnout and opposition to the bill from the people of Colorado.

A joint effort between Family Policy Alliance and our state ally, Colorado Family Action, resulted in nearly 95,000 email messages of opposition being sent to committee members! During the hearing, legislators commented on the overwhelming volume of messages in opposition.

And the response to our joint call to attend the hearing was phenomenal. Not only was the large hearing room packed, but six overflow rooms were needed. More than 300 people signed up to testify, and the vast majority were opposed to the bill.

Stephanie Curry, an attorney and Policy Manager for Family Policy Alliance, testified at the hearing.  Our close partner, Focus on the Family, also spoke against the bill, as did another ally, Centennial Institute.

“This bill would allow the state to indoctrinate children on state sexual values, while censoring others – those of parents,” Curry told the panel during her testimony. “We oppose the state’s unconstitutional attempt to take over parental rights.”

While the result is disappointing given the overwhelming opposition to the bill, it’s not shocking. That’s because this is a committee that was put together by Democrat leadership to pass liberal social bills like this one. It even included the state’s only transgender legislator, Brianna Titone.

But the enormous outpouring of opposition was powerful and noticed by all, including the media. FPA’s Curry was interviewed by multiple TV news channels, and media reports expressed amazement at citizen turnout.

Your response was truly a “shot across the bow” that will give us a fighting chance to defeat this bill at the next committee or on the floor. That next chance starts now, as the bill is headed to the House Appropriations Committee. Please take a moment to send your message to that committee today!

Thank you for making your voice heard! Please continue to do so by clicking here to send your message to the next committee, the House Appropriations Committee.

The Family Policy Alliance Team

 

How They Voted

If one of the members who voted for this bill is your representative, please hold them accountable.

Voting YES:

Janet Buckner (D – Arapahoe)
Yadira Caraveo (D – Adams
Sonya Jaquez Lewis (D – Boulder)
Susan Lontine (D – Denver/Jefferson)
Chris Kennedy (D – Jefferson)
Kyle Mullica (D – Adams)
Brianna Titone (D – Jefferson)

 

Voting NO:

Mark Baisley (R – Douglas/Teller)
Susan Beckman (R – Arapahoe)
Marc Catlin (R – Dolores/Montezuma/Montrose/San Miguel)
Matt Soper (R- Delta/Mesa)