Denver, CO – Earlier this week, House Concurrent Resolution 1004 “Fundamental Rights for Parents,” a resolution to amend the Colorado Constitution was introduced in the Colorado House of Representatives. One Colorado opposes HCR23-1004 because the resolution undermines Colorado’s education system, promotes censorship, and puts vulnerable youth more at risk. Colorado youth and their families deserve honest, accurate, inclusive education and healthcare and have shown time and time again that they do not stand for discrimination. One Colorado, the state’s leading advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) Coloradans and their families, released the following statement from One Colorado Executive Director Nadine Bridges, MSW (she/her):

‍“This resolution is an overstep that will restrict the rights of young people and suppress information if it does not fit within a narrow view of the world. Our country is facing a mental health crisis and young people, especially LGBTQ+ young people, need support and access to resources more than ever. HCR23-1004 would cause irreparable harm by amending the Colorado Constitution to favor censorship and invasion of privacy over basic rights. It’s dangerous to try to use Colorado’s Constitution to control what students can and cannot read, what they can and cannot learn, and most troublingly, who they can and cannot be.”

Impacts

In previous legislative sessions, One Colorado and our partners have defeated every similarly attempted bill, including in 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2022. “Parental rights” as described in these bills include various aspects of increased oversight in a child’s upbringing, education, and health care. Youth Privacy & Safety:

• Compromising students’ constitutional right to privacy and the confidentiality of private medical and educational records.
• Increasing the risk for a student to experience retaliation based on disclosure of data such as LGBTQ+ or disability status, or seeking reproductive health care.

Educational Censorship:

• Controlling what youth can and cannot learn in school.
• Forcing school boards, administrators, and teachers to violate student privacy and trust.
• Eliminating students’ access to affirming, inclusive educational opportunities, groups, and extracurricular activities where they thrive.

Public Health & Access to Care:

• Discouraging youth from accessing needed health care and/or mental health support.
• Increasing negative downstream impacts on individual and community health due to neglected medical and/or mental health care.

About the Resolution

HCR23-1004 is a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, meaning it would amend the state constitution. To become law, the resolution would first need to pass the House and Senate, and then be approved by voters in the 2024 General Election. The resolution is assigned to the House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee and will be heard in committee on April 24th.