“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” – Romans 8:31
For years now, Colorado’s state government has been recklessly determined to attack the right to free speech and other First Amendment rights of Coloradans. Examples of those who have been directly targeted by the Colorado government in this way include Jack Phillips, Lorie Smith, and others.
This year, once again, Colorado’s state legislature continued its assault on the right to free speech by passing HB 25-1312, which is also known as the “Kelly Loving Act.” The bill focused on expanding the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act by including “misgendering” and “deadnaming” as acts of discrimination. Unbelievably, in Colorado, if one does not address a “transgender” person by their “preferred pronouns,” one will be legally guilty of acts of discrimination, specifically “misgendering” and “deadnaming.”
Born Again Used Books is a Christian bookstore in Colorado Springs owned by Eric Smith and his wife, Sara. The couple are devout believers in the Lord and incorporate their faith-based values into their business. With the new expansion of the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act in effect, the Smiths are now facing a difficult situation as they will not act against their Biblical convictions and speak messages that go against the objective truth that every person is created in the image of God, either male or female.
To explain to their customers why they will not use pronouns that do not correlate with one’s biological sex, the Smiths were going to publish a blog post on their website explaining their Biblically based convictions on human sexuality. The state of Colorado, however, is attempting to censor the bookstore and punish it for explaining its position.
To defend Born Again Used Books, Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys have filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Christian bookstore challenging the amendment to the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. The Smiths have a constitutional right to operate their business in accordance with their deeply held religious beliefs, and, hopefully, this lawsuit will play out to ensure just that.
LET US PRAY…
Father, may the relentless and reckless attacks from the Colorado government against free speech stop soon. Lord, please bless the Smiths and their business for taking a stand for Biblical convictions and truth. Father, we pray that this lawsuit on the Smiths’ behalf will ultimately conclude that the radical “anti-discrimination” amendment is unconstitutional. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
