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Educators and health groups urge JBC to preserve Colorado's CHSE grant program
Summary
Representatives from education, public‑health and LGBTQ advocacy groups told the committee that proposed cuts to the Comprehensive Human Sexuality Education (CHSE) grant would remove critical rural and inclusive programming and harm prevention outcomes.
Multiple witnesses including Lisonbee Macklin (SEG 024), Adrienne Gomez representing Trailhead Institute (SEG 025), Claudia Perez of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (SEG 026), and youth and community advocates (Elsie Fierro SEG 029; Ari Gibson SEG 028) asked the committee to reject the governor's proposal to eliminate CHSE grant funding.
Speakers characterized CHSE as a small, high‑impact program (Planned Parenthood cited a $1,000,000 annual budget) that trains educators, helps school districts implement medically accurate curricula and prioritizes rural and mountain communities. Advocates argued that elimination of the grant would not change statutory requirements for sex‑education policy but would remove the training, curriculum adoption and accountability supports that make the law meaningful.
Education and prevention arguments were framed around research that investing in comprehensive sexual‑health education reduces unintended pregnancy and sexual violence and generates downstream savings; witnesses urged a careful evaluation rather than defunding.
