Statement on St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy
COLAGE released the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to hear St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, a case involving a Colorado preschool’s desire to exclude COLAGErs:
COLAGE is closely following the Supreme Court’s decision to hear St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, a case that could shape whether publicly funded programs can exclude COLAGErs under the banner of so-called religious freedom. The case asks whether Colorado is allowed to ensure that preschoolers have equal opportunity to attend publicly-funded preschool, regardless of the sexual orientation of their parents.
For COLAGErs, this is not abstract. It’s about whether some of the youngest COLAGErs among us are welcomed, affirmed, and treated with dignity in the spaces meant to support our growth.
“Policies that allow exclusion based on who your family is don’t just create legal inconsistencies,” explains Jordan Wilson, Executive Director of COLAGE, the only national organization uniting, supporting, and advocating for people with LGBTQ+ parents. “They send a harmful message about whose families count. Neutral, generally applicable protections are designed to ensure that all children and families can participate fully in public life without fear of being turned away.”
To every COLAGEr: we see you, and we’re fighting for you. Our families are real, valid, and deserving of respect in every classroom and community. As this case moves forward, COLAGE will continue to advocate for policies and outcomes that protect our right to belong–without exception.
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Read more about COLAGE’s commitment to affirming school climate for COLAGErs, learn more about COLAGE and our work, and help support us as we continue to provide community and empowerment for people with LGBTQ+ parents or caregivers.
