Christian Camp Pushes Back as Gender Law Threatens Its Ministry
Camp IdRaHaJe, a Christian summer camp in Colorado, is suing the state over a gender policy that it claims could shut it down. The camp, which has been operating since 1948 and licensed in Colorado in 1995, cited its Christian faith in objection to a new regulation by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood that requires it to allow campers to use restrooms and facilities that correspond with their gender identities.
The conservative legal firm Alliance Defending Freedom, which filed a lawsuit on behalf of Camp IdRaHaJe on May 12, noted concerns expressed by the camp after the regulation was created, CBN News reports.
“Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed a lawsuit Monday with the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado on behalf of a Christian summer camp seeking to uphold its religious and commonsense beliefs about biological sex,” a press release reads. “The camp is challenging a recent Colorado Department of Early Childhood policy update that forces licensed resident camps to allow campers to use private facilities of the opposite sex.”
Although the camp attempted to get a religious exemption, it wasn’t granted.
The ADF explained the alleged denial forced “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.”
According to ADF legal counsel Andrea Dill, the government lacks the right to threaten to close or penalize a Christian camp due to exercising its “religious beliefs about human sexuality.”
“Camp IdRaHaJe exists to present the truth of the gospel to children who are building character and lifelong memories,” Dill said in a statement. “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,” she continued.
In a statement to CBS News, Lisa Roy, executive director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, said that although officials cannot comment on active litigation, the agency will work with faith-based groups “within the confines of the law.”
“The Department will continue working in partnership with faith-based providers and camps within the confines of the law to ensure maximum participation,” the statement read. “As I’m sure you understand, we cannot comment on active litigation.”
Photo Credit: ©Facebook/IdRaHaJe
Originally published May 22, 2025.
