Serving Lakewood, Wheat Ridge and beyond
WEEK OF DECEMBER 19, 2024
VOLUME 41 | ISSUE 20
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Judge denies injunction in Jeffco Schools’ transgender rooming policy case BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
WESTMINSTER LED lights illuminate the main street at Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park.
A federal judge has denied a preliminary injunction sought by Jefferson County parents against a school district policy allowing transgender students to room according to their gender identity during overnight trips. U.S. District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez ruled on Nov. 1 that the plaintiffs didn’t provide enough evidence to show they were directly affected by the policy or at risk of immediate harm. The lawsuit, filed in September by Serena and Joseph Wailes, Bret and Susanne Roller and Robert and Jade Perlman, centered on concerns about sharing rooms, beds or bathrooms with transgender peers during school-sponsored trips, drawing widespread attention due to its implications for parental rights and student privacy. The denial of the preliminary injunction means that Jeffco’s policy remains in effect as the case progresses.
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Background of the case
COURTESY OF CITY OF LAKEWOOD
Lakewood Lights brings holiday cheer with lighting ceremony and community fun BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The community’s holiday spirit lit up Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park during the annual Lakewood Lights event in early December. Families gathered for a full evening of festivities, highlighted by a lighting ceremony that included a visit from Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and culminated in a countdown that transformed the park into a glowing winter wonderland. The ceremony began with the Green Mountain High School’s Shadows of the Mountain Choir, a longtime favorite at the event. “They have been kicking off our lighting ceremony for many years now, so we were excited to have them back,” said
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Rebecca Gushen, community events coordinator. The choir performed a few songs before the mayor, city council members and Santa Claus took the stage to lead the countdown. “When we hit zero, all the lights turned on, and it was this really special, magical moment,” Gushen said. The crowd agreed as they cheered the illumination of all 15 of the park’s historic buildings. Goshen said the city uses all LED lights powered by renewable energy. Following the high school choir’s performance, the Rose Stein Elementary School children’s choir sang several festive songs. Visitors enjoyed free hot cocoa and cookies throughout the evening, adding warmth to the chilly December night.
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VOICES: 10 | LIFE: 12 | CALENDAR: 15
A celebration of inclusion
This year, Lakewood Lights introduced sensory-friendly Santa hours, creating a more inclusive experience for children with sensory sensitivities. “Typically, with Santa visits, there’s a lot of people, and it’s very loud,” Gushen said. “The experience can overwhelm kids with sensory-processing concerns.” As a result, organizers set aside two hours before the lighting ceremony when the atmosphere was quieter, the lights were dimmed, and Santa adopted a softer demeanor. Goshen explained that the muted environment allows Santa to meet with children on their terms, whatever that may look like.
The plaintiffs allege that Jeffco’s policy violated their fundamental right to direct the upbringing and education of their children. They contend that the district’s approach to room assignments during school-sponsored overnight trips compromised their children’s privacy and conflicted with their religious beliefs. The Alliance Defending Freedom, a legal organization known for advocating parental rights and religious freedom, agreed to represent the parents when the Wailes family reached out to them after their daughter had been assigned to room with a transgender student during an out-of-state trip in June 2023. According to the lawsuit, the Wailes were told their daughter would share a room with three other fifth-grade girls. However, upon arriving in her hotel room on the first night, she discovered she was assigned to share a bed with a transgender girl, according to the lawsuit. SEE POLICY, P7
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SEE LIGHTS, P2
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