A private Christian preschool in Colorado has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the state’s Department of Early Childhood, alleging discrimination. The Darren Patterson Christian Academy, which operates the “Busy Bees” preschool in Buena Vista, claims that it will be denied state funding unless it adopts practices that contradict its employees’ religious beliefs.
The preschool had been accepted into a new universal preschool program that offers 15 hours per week of free preschool to all 4-year-olds in the state. However, the school later discovered that it must adhere to nondiscrimination provisions concerning gender identity in order to receive funding. It subsequently applied for a religious exemption from these provisions, but the request was denied.
The lawsuit, filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) on behalf of the school, contends that the Department of Early Childhood’s actions violate the school’s constitutional rights.