One Colorado, the state’s leading advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Coloradans, released the following statements upon Governor’s Polis signing of HB21-1072 “Equal Access Services For Out-of-home Placements” earlier today.

HB21-1072 prohibits any entity that receives state funding and offers any service related to out-of-home placements of youth, including foster care or adoption, from discriminating against potential adoptive or foster parents and children within the foster care system. Additionally, the bill mandates pre and post-placement training requirements for foster parents. HB21-1072 passed the General Assembly on partisan votes in the House of 40-24 and the Senate 20-15.

“We are so happy to see this bill make its way to the Governor's desk and grateful to the legislators who supported it. LGBTQ youth are over-represented in our foster care system and, through this bill, we are breaking down barriers that prevent them from being placed in safe and affirming homes. Today is a victory for equality.”

• Nadine Bridges (she/her), MSW, Executive Director, One Colorado

“Every child, especially those waiting for adoption, deserve all the help that we can give them. I’m proud to sign legislation that helps our youth in need of adoption or foster care to have better health and more educational opportunities no matter their race, ethnicity, orientation, or disability status,”

• Governor Jared Polis (he/him)

"I am so proud to work with One Colorado to strengthen our protection of our LGBTQ+ youth. Every child is worthy of love and an affirming home. This legislation is an important step towards increasing equality and inclusion of all youth in the foster care system."

• Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis (she/her), D-Boulder, Senate Prime Sponsor

“I'm proud to sponsor 1072, this ensures that LGBTQ parents and LGBTQ kids are not discriminated against in the foster care system. Loving and capable parents should have an equal opportunity to care for a child, regardless of real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or marital status. No child should be denied a loving home because of their real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Every child is worthy of love and an affirming home and this is a step in the right direction.”

• Senator Rhonda Fields (she/her), D-Aurora, Senate Prime Sponsor

“In Colorado, we value our families — in whatever shape or form they come in. As a sponsor of this bill, I’m passionate about uniting caring foster parents with children in need of homes and finding loving homes for foster youth. Our foster care system works best when we are inclusive of all families.”

• Representative Meg Froelich (she/her), D-Englewood, House Prime Sponsor