Denver, CO -- On the opening day of the second regular session of the 72nd Colorado General Assembly, two bills were introduced in the Colorado House of Representatives that will cause serious harm to the LGBTQ community if enacted. House Bills 20-1033 and 20-1063 roll back protections for LGBTQ Coloradans, including LGBTQ youth, in the areas of parental abuse, adoption and foster care, healthcare, housing, employment, and public spaces.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 Executive Director, Daniel Ramos, on the introduction of HB20-1033.

“This is the third year the “Live and Let Live Act” has been introduced, and we intend to fight and defeat it just as we did the two previous years. It is the most mean-spirited, anti-LGBTQ bill to be introduced in the Colorado legislature in years. Freedom of religion is important, and that is why it is already protected by the First Amendment of our Constitution. And that freedom doesn’t give any of us the right to harm or discriminate against others. We are confident that Colorado will continue to send a strong, clear message that these ‘license to discriminate’ bills have no place in our state.”

‍Ramos continued with regards to HB20-1063,

“The Fundamental Family Rights bill compromises the safety of our children and does not address the many factors that lead to children entering the foster care system. This bill will make it more difficult for LGBTQ youth to be removed from abusive and non-affirming homes, which can cause long-term mental health issues. With suicide being the leading cause of death of youth aged 10-24 in Colorado, we must be doing everything we can to ensure that all youth, including LGBTQ youth, have the supports they need to thrive as their authentic selves.”

The House prime sponsor for HB20-1033 is Rep. Stephen Humphrey (R-Severance), with Rep. Perry Buck (R-Windsor), Rep. Tim Geitner (R-Falcon), Rep. Patrick Neville (R-Castle Rock), Rep. Kim Ransom (R-Douglas County), Rep. Lori Saine (R-Firestone), Rep. Shane Sandridge (R-El Paso County) Rep. Dave. Williams (R-Colorado Springs) as co-sponsors.The HB20-1063 House prime sponsor is Rep. Tim Geitner (R-Falcon).