Colorado Democrats Vote Against Criminalizing Indecent Exposure to Children

More than two dozen Colorado Democrats have voted against making it a felony for anyone to expose themselves to children.

QUICK FACTS:
  • 27 Democrats in the state of Colorado have voted against legislation that would make it illegal for an individual to indecently expose themselves to children.
  • Colorado currently only considers exposing oneself in view of a child a misdemeanor, as critics complain that making the act a felony would lead to the banning of drag shows.
  • “These types of laws have been used to ban drag shows, to target individuals who use the restroom of the sex they identify with – a public restroom – to charge them with felony charges,” Democratic Representative Leslie Herod said.
  • “I am very concerned about the attacks against the transgender community that are happening across the country,” she added.
  • Despite opposition, the bill making indecent exposure to children a felony passed last weekend, however, making exceptions if the exposure is in a public place with other adults present.
DEMOCRAT BILL PROPONENT REP. SHANNON BIRD:

“There is no intent to harm any member of any community,” Bird said. “The measure is about protecting children, making sure that any sex crime against a child is punished.”

BACKGROUND:
  • Rep. Herod, who was elected in 2016 as the first Black, LGBTQ member of the Colorado House of Representatives, reportedly ran for Denver mayor last month but was defeated by rival Mike Johnston.
  • In November 2022, the congresswoman called on officials to enforce the state’s red flag gun laws and claimed the LGBTQ community was under “attack.”
  • “I’m very upset because I know that people were targeted for loving who they love, just for presenting how they present — just for being themselves and wanting to celebrate and party and find connection,” Herod said at the time.
  • During her March 2023 campaign, the lawmaker’s colleagues and associates shared with Axios that the representative was not only difficult to work with but also that her leadership was “toxic.”

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