Colorado Dem chair calls GOP 'stupid' for urging parents to pull kids from public schools

June 01, 2024

DENVER (CITC) — The leader of the Colorado Democratic Party is calling the state Republican Party "stupid" for encouraging parents to pull their children from public schools over a new gender identity law.

The Colorado Republican Party issued a statewide email Tuesday condemning a new state law. Under HB24-1039, public schools are now required to honor students' "chosen" names, defined in the legislation as differing from legal names and reflecting their gender identities. The law does not explicitly require parental consent for schools to do so.

In its email, the Colorado Republican Party condemned the legislation and urg ed parents to remove their children from public schools over it.

Colorado Kids should be able to attend public schools, receive a quality education, and be free from indoctrination, but that is far from reality," the emails reads.

Shad Murib, the chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, blasted the GOP's call Thursday as "not only irresponsible," but "frankly stupid."

"Every parent agrees that no child should be made to feel unsafe or discriminated against in their classrooms, and the GOP is actively encouraging bullying of our kids," Murib told Crisis in the Classroom (CITC). "More plainly, this is part of their continued war against teachers, parents, our kids and public education in general."

Murib asserted laws like HB24-1039 are designed to help keep LGBTQ+ students safe. He went on to accuse Colorado Republicans of "playing politics with the First Amendment" by claiming the new law violates the constitutional rights of both parents and teachers.

They're playing their part as pawns in a political battle that is not focused on giving our kids a great education, but is pitting them against each other," he told CITC.

In its email Tuesday, the Colorado Republican Party included a "religious exemption" resolution for school boards seeking to opt out of enforcing HB24-1039. The party is encouraging school boards to pass the resolution to prevent "government overreach" and "harmful fetishization of children."

"The goal here is clear; the Colorado legislature seeks to break down the family unit while convincing kids that government knows best," the email reads.

Several transgender students pushed for the passage of HB24-1039 at a Colorado House Education Committee hearing in February. One student told lawmakers at the time legal name changes are often expensive, arguing the legislation would give students "the tools to be able to live their authentic self."

"Shad Murib is conflating indoctrination with safety and acceptance," Darcy Schoening, who wrote Tuesday's Colorado GOP email, told CITC in a statement. "Our children are endangered by adults who are promoting sexual fetishes and gender ideology as a means by which to drive a wedge between a parent and child. Given the grave sexual predation going on in public schools and the immediate need for reform, parents are better off looking at private, charter, or home schools for their children."

Have something for the Crisis in the Classroom team to investigate? Call or text the national tip line at 202-417-7273.

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