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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Carolyn Romero | carolyn.romero@state.co.us |720-512-8089
Denver, CO — June 24, 2025— The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) reached a settlement agreement with Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je. As a result, the religious-based summer camp has agreed to voluntarily dismiss its lawsuit as the regulations cited in its Complaint do not apply to the camp.
The camp filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court alleging that the CDEC denied a request for an exemption related to gender-identity rules. The rules cited in the Complaint are based on the Colorado Civil Rights Commission’s (CCRC) rules implementing the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA). The CCRC rules, adopted in 2009, do not apply to places “principally used for religious purposes,” such as Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je. CDEC adopted rules related to gender identity in 2018 for consistency with the CCRC’s rules and then amended those rules in February 2025.
Consistent with current law, none of CDEC’s gender-identity regulations have ever applied to or been enforced against child care providers that are churches, synagogues, mosques, or entities that are principally used for religious purposes, including Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je.
“We are glad to support Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je’s understanding of their ability to provide a Christian camp experience to kids. The CDEC did not take any enforcement action against Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je related to any of the licensing regulations raised in the lawsuit and the camp was never under a threat of closure," said Dr. Lisa Roy, CDEC executive director.
As part of the settlement agreement, the CDEC provided an information memo and administrative guidance for Children’s Resident Camps. Those documents affirm that the rules cited in the Complaint do not apply to child care providers that are churches, synagogues, mosques, or places that are principally used for religious purposes.
Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je opened at the beginning of the 2025 summer season and the CDEC is not aware of any reason the regulations cited in the Complaint would have prevented the Camp from opening or continuing to operate this summer.
Attachments: Copy of Settlement Agreement
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