A historic Colorado Christian summer camp faces potential closure after refusing to comply with state regulations requiring transgender accommodations that conflict with their religious beliefs.
At a Glance
- Camp IdRaHaJe, operating since 1948, is suing Colorado over transgender accommodation requirements
- New state regulations require camps to provide facilities aligned with campers’ gender identity
- The camp requested a religious exemption which was denied by state authorities
- Alliance Defending Freedom filed a federal lawsuit claiming First and Fourteenth Amendment violations
- The case highlights growing tensions between religious freedom and gender identity policies
Christian Camp Challenges State Transgender Mandate
Camp IdRaHaJe, a Christian summer camp that has served Colorado families since 1948, has found itself at the center of a legal battle that could determine its future. The camp is suing the state over new licensing requirements that mandate facilities be provided according to campers’ gender identity rather than biological sex. These regulations, which affect sleeping arrangements, bathrooms, and changing areas, directly conflict with the camp’s biblical teachings on gender as binary and God-created.
“The government has no place telling religious summer camps that it’s ‘lights out’ for upholding their religious beliefs about human sexuality,” ADF legal counsel Andrea Dill said.
The camp, which has held a resident camp license since 1995, sought a religious exemption from the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. Despite their request, state officials denied the exemption, effectively forcing the camp to choose between abandoning their religious convictions or losing their operating license. This ultimatum has prompted the camp to take legal action with the support of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a nonprofit legal organization that specializes in religious liberty cases.
Constitutional Rights at Stake
ADF has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Camp IdRaHaJe, alleging that the state’s regulations violate both the First Amendment’s protection of religious freedom and the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause. The lawsuit argues that the government is overstepping its bounds by compelling a religious organization to act against its fundamental beliefs. The case could set a significant precedent for religious organizations nationwide that face similar conflicts between faith-based principles and evolving social policies.
The Colorado Department of Early Childhood has responded with a statement indicating they will “work within the law with faith-based providers.” However, the department has not indicated any willingness to reconsider the exemption denial that prompted the lawsuit. This stance has left the camp with limited options as they prepare for upcoming summer sessions while the legal process unfolds.
Community Support and Parental Concerns
Families who have sent children to Camp IdRaHaJe for years are expressing support for the camp’s position. Leah Rohwer, whose children have attended the camp since after the pandemic, highlighted the extensive nature of the regulations. “This regulation requires it for bunking, for bathing, for changing, for anywhere where they would be separated biologically,” Rohwer explained, emphasizing the practical implications for camper privacy and safety.
Many parents choose Camp IdRaHaJe specifically because of its Christian foundation and biblical teachings. The controversy raises significant questions about parental rights and religious education. Parents who select faith-based programs for their children do so with the expectation that these organizations will uphold specific religious values. The state mandate potentially interferes with this parental decision-making process by forcing changes to the camp’s operational philosophy.
Broader Implications for Religious Organizations
The lawsuit comes amid growing tensions nationwide between religious organizations and government regulations regarding gender identity. Christian leaders and legal experts are watching the case closely, as its outcome could influence how religious ministries navigate similar challenges in other states. The conflict illustrates the increasingly complex legal landscape for faith-based organizations seeking to maintain their religious identity while operating within evolving regulatory frameworks.
For Camp IdRaHaJe, the stakes couldn’t be higher. With a 77-year legacy of Christian Ministry at risk, camp leaders face difficult decisions about their future operations. The case underscores the challenge of balancing religious freedom protections with anti-discrimination policies—a balancing act that has become increasingly complicated in contemporary American society. As the legal battle proceeds, both sides recognize that fundamental principles of constitutional rights and civil liberties hang in the balance.
