| Published June 25, 2025
Apparently have learned from earlier court disasters that cost taxpayers millions, and state officials now quickly settle fight over their agenda to impose LGBT beliefs on faith groups serving kids, and everyone else
In a significant legal victory for religious liberty advocates, a Christian summer camp in Colorado has secured the right to operate according to its biblical beliefs about gender identity. Following a legal challenge by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the state of Colorado agreed to exempt Camp IdRaHaJe from regulations that would have required it to allow boys who identify as girls to share living and bathroom facilities with female campers. The settlement not only shields the camp from state enforcement but also updates official guidance to ensure that religious camps are not compelled to violate their convictions.
🏕️ Key points
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Settlement in Colorado: The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) reached a settlement with the state regarding Camp IdRaHaJe (I’d Rather Have Jesus), a Christian children’s camp near Bailey, Colorado.
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Background of the dispute: Colorado’s Department of Early Childhood had attempted to require all licensed camps—including religious ones—to allow campers to use opposite-sex facilities such as cabins, showers, and dressing areas.
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Outcome of settlement:
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Colorado agreed not to enforce its gender-identity regulations on Camp IdRaHaJe.
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The state also clarified in memos and administrative guides that camps or facilities “principally used for religious purposes” are exempt from these rules.
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Timing: The lawsuit was filed about a month earlier and reportedly cost taxpayers millions in prior litigation over related LGBT-related policies.
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ADF’s statement:
ADF attorney Andrea Dill stated that the camp can now comply with its religious beliefs about biological sex and continue accepting campers without being forced to violate convictions. -
Camp history: Founded in 1948, Camp IdRaHaJe has been operating under a licensed status since 1995.
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Political context: The article frames Colorado’s actions—under Democrat leadership (Governor Jared Polis and a Democrat-controlled legislature and Supreme Court)—as part of a broader push for pro-LGBT and transgender policies following previous legal confrontations.
⚖️ Context & perspectives
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The Alliance Defending Freedom is a conservative Christian legal group that frequently defends religious exemptions in cases involving LGBT rights. It has drawn controversy and been labeled as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center due to its positions on LGBTQ issues.
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This outcome mirrors other cases where religious organizations have sought—and won—exemptions from state or local anti-discrimination policies that conflict with their beliefs.
VICTORY! It’s a big win for the Christian camp that didn’t want to let boys into its girls’ showers & cabins.
One month after we sued, Colorado has agreed to an exemption for Camp IdRaHaJe—and clarified that its gender identity rules don’t apply to religious camps. pic.twitter.com/6jzLcdsNee
— Kristen Waggoner (@KristenWaggoner) June 25, 2025
Implications
🔹 For Religious Freedom
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The case reinforces the right of faith-based institutions to operate according to their beliefs without being compelled to adopt state-mandated gender policies.
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It may serve as precedent or inspiration for other religious camps or schools facing similar regulatory pressures nationwide.
🔹 For State Policy
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Colorado’s settlement signals a limitation in how far anti-discrimination laws can be applied when they intersect with religious rights.
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Other states with similar laws might now face increased legal scrutiny when regulating faith-based organizations.
🔹 For Transgender Rights
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The decision could be seen as a setback by transgender advocates, as it allows exemptions that some argue create exclusionary environments for transgender youth.
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It might embolden broader legal efforts to carve out religious exemptions from non-discrimination laws.
🔹 For Legal Strategy
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The victory gives momentum to conservative legal groups like the ADF, showing that litigation can result in substantial policy changes even without a court ruling.
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It also highlights the strategic use of settlements to avoid prolonged, expensive legal battles for both sides.
💬 Overall Takeaway:
The settlement between Camp IdRaHaJe and the state of Colorado marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate between religious liberty and transgender rights. By affirming the camp’s right to uphold its biblical values, the case underscores the legal and cultural tensions shaping policies around faith, identity, and government regulation. As similar disputes emerge across the country, this outcome may influence how states craft future laws—and how religious institutions assert their constitutional protections.
SOURCES: WORLD NET DAILY – ‘Big win’: Leftists abandon perverted trans demands at Christian camp for children
