Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Parental Rights

Why Community Standards Matter When Public Venues Market Events as “Family-Friendly”
FAIR Colorado, Approved, Commentary, Local

Why Community Standards Matter When Public Venues Market Events as “Family-Friendly”

By: Dikki Schober | Commentary, FAIR Colorado Why community standards matter in publicly-supported spaces. Recent controversy surrounding a production of Shrek the Musical at the PACE Center in Parker has reignited an ongoing debate in Douglas County: how should publicly-supported institutions navigate community standards, parental expectations, and artistic expression—especially when events are marketed as “family-friendly”? This discussion is not unique to Shrek, nor is it limited to one performance or one community. In recent years, Douglas County residents have raised concerns about programming promoted as appropriate for families that, upon closer review, did not align with many parents’ reasonable expectations. The Shrek controversy fit...
Teachers Accused of Pushing Anti-ICE Activism on Young Students Nationwide
Breitbart, Approved, National

Teachers Accused of Pushing Anti-ICE Activism on Young Students Nationwide

By Warner Todd Huston | Breitbart Anti-American, left-wing teachers are forcing K-12 kids to join anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protests all across the country as Democrats and foreign-funded activists continue to march in support of criminal illegal migrants. A school teacher in Boston, for instance, proudly released a video showing what appears to be first grade children parading inside the classroom with anti-ICE signs, according to the MassDailyNews. https://twitter.com/MassDailyNews/status/2018930359635689602?s=20 Teachers have a vested interest in Joe Biden-styled, open borders immigration because as more illegals enter the country, more students from families of illegals are fed into the school systems for free education. Hence more t...
Parents allege school mistreatment of autistic child as Cherry Creek faces federal civil rights investigation
Rocky Mountain Voice, Local, Top Stories

Parents allege school mistreatment of autistic child as Cherry Creek faces federal civil rights investigation

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice In response to concerns raised by a family in Colorado about the treatment of their young son in kindergarten, the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education opened an investigation into whether the Cherry Creek School District was in compliance with federal civil rights and special education law, a problem that is not new to the district.  The concern was raised after months of unanswered questions, the parents said. Special Education Changes the Parents Say Were Never Explained Ana and Brandon Lantz’s son started kindergarten in 2023. As time went on in the school year, records indicate that their son received special instruction outside of the general classroom. At first, it was ...
Colorado School Accused of Teaching Students to Track ICE Agents
TownHall.com, Approved, Local

Colorado School Accused of Teaching Students to Track ICE Agents

By: Joseph Chalfant | Townhall A presentation was allegedly given at a Jefferson County, Colorado public school instructing students on how to document ICE agents conducting operations. The information included the often-used acronym “S.A.L.U.T.E.” to instruct their children on how to ensure full documentation of the activity of federal agents, essentially equipping them to work as “ICE watchers” like Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Children were told to gather information like number of officers, appearance, location, and the equipment of officers that students might observe. “Remember: document and record everything,” one slide of the presentation read. The presentation also “informed” students that “ICE leadership has given officers the go-ahead to violate the [...
Colorado’s quiet revival: A custody provision lawmakers stripped is back in SB26-018
Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Colorado’s quiet revival: A custody provision lawmakers stripped is back in SB26-018

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice When Colorado lawmakers removed custody language from a transgender-related bill in 2025, the fight appeared to cool — or at least move out of view. It didn’t last. Jan. 14 marked the formal introduction of Senate Bill 26-018, backed in the Senate by Katie Wallace and Chris Kolker and carried in the House by Meg Froelich and Lorena García. No Republicans signed on. The bill was assigned to Senate Judiciary, chaired by sponsor Chris Kolker. Lead sponsor Katie Wallace has emphasized education and family policy in discussing the measure, drawing on her background on the Jefferson County School Board. The proposal revives a custody standard lawmakers stripped from a similar bill last session after pub...
Democrats Revive Gender Identity Language in Colorado Child Custody Law
Colorado Politics, Approved, State

Democrats Revive Gender Identity Language in Colorado Child Custody Law

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics Democratic lawmakers eye reviving a provision related to gender identity in child custody cases that was stripped from a bill signed into law last year. Last session, lawmakers passed House Bill 1312, which dealt with legal protections for transgender individuals. The law included new provisions dealing with name changes on marriage certificates, sex designations on driver’s licenses, and school dress codes. Specifically, the bill requires county clerks and recorders to issue name changes on marriage certificates when requested but leave no indication or mark that the certificate has been modified. It allows an individual to change the sex designation on a driver’s license up to three times, instead of just once, before bei...
Parents Are Losing Authority and Washington Must Act
Daily Citizen, Approved, Commentary, National

Parents Are Losing Authority and Washington Must Act

By Emily Washburn | Commentary, Daily Citizen Erin Friday champions parental rights at the highest levels of government. The attorney and mother spent last week on Capitol Hill, rallying to keep boys out of girls sports and urging members of congress to protect parents who do not affirm their children’s sexual identity confusion. Earlier this month, Friday met with the White House Domestic Policy Council to propose an executive order she’d written to prevent family courts and child placement organizations from discriminating against parents who affirm their children’s sex. Friday’s passionate defense of parents began in 2020, when her 13-year-old daughter declared herself “transgender.” “Her school secretly socially transitioned her wh...
Merit Academy: Undeniable Change, A Model For Our Next Victory
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, State, Top Stories

Merit Academy: Undeniable Change, A Model For Our Next Victory

By Eric Gil | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The success of Merit Academy in Woodland Park is no secret. When your school is ranked #5 of all K-12 Colorado Public Schools, it is hard to hide. This article is a look into the origin story of Merit Academy, led by Headmaster Gwynne Pekron. A reminder that we still hold the power to shape our children’s futures and that even when faced with centralized control, a path to real change exists. As a former charter school student and public school teacher, Merit’s story of ascension inspires me to look for ways to ensure our future.   Increased attention toward public education from concerned parents is one of the many lasting outcomes of the 2020 pandemic and the subsequent shifts in education. In Woodland Park, this ...
From Misunderstanding to Malice. Why Conservatives Finally Speak Plainly
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, National, Top Stories

From Misunderstanding to Malice. Why Conservatives Finally Speak Plainly

By C. J. Garbo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice For decades, many conservatives believed silence was a virtue. They assumed that if they spoke carefully, clearly, and charitably, they would be understood. When their views were mischaracterized as racist, cruel, or hateful, they often withdrew. Not because they agreed with the accusation, but because they did not want to be mistaken for something they were not. That assumption was wrong. The problem was never widespread misunderstanding by good people. The problem was intentional distortion by bad actors. Language was not being misheard. It was being weaponized. Moral accusations were not mistakes. They were tactics. Once you understand that distinction, everything changes. If your opponent is honestly...