Colorado Govt. Demands Christian Camp Allow Boys To Use Girl’s Washrooms, Or Else Get Shut Down

Staff Writer

The Christian law firm Alliance Defending Freedom has launched a lawsuit against heads of Colorado’s Department of Early Childhood after the government organization ruled that the camp could not obtain a license to operate if they did not allow boys and girls to share bathrooms and tents. A press release from the ADF explains:

Camp IdRaHaJe, which derives its name from the song “I’d Rather Have Jesus,” has served children in Bailey, Colorado since 1948 and has maintained a resident camp license in the state since 1995….Each year, 2,500 to 3,000 students attend, and the camp’s mission is to “win souls to Jesus Christ through the spreading of the Gospel.”

Recently, the department that issues resident camp licenses amended its regulations, requiring children’s camps to allow campers to access bathing, dressing, and sleeping facilities designated to the opposite sex.

When IdRaHaJe requested to run its camp in line with its religious beliefs, the department denied the request, forcing the camp to choose between upholding its beliefs about biological sex and risk losing its license or abandoning its beliefs and mission to minister to children.

The ADF breaks this down further in their filing:

ADF Legal Counsel Andrea Dill explained 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.”