Christian Bookstore Challenges Colorado’s “Gender Expression” Law In Federal Court
Christian Bookstore Sues Colorado Over Pronoun Mandate, Citing First Amendment
A family-owned Christian bookstore in Colorado Springs has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a state law that redefines “gender expression” to include preferred pronouns and titles, arguing it violates their religious freedom and free speech rights.
Born Again Used Books, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) attorneys, contends that Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) unconstitutionally compels them to speak in ways that contradict their deeply held Christian beliefs about biological sex.
The lawsuit, Born Again Used Books v. Sullivan, was filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. At its core, the case centers on the bookstore’s policy of using biologically accurate language when referring to customers and employees, based on their belief that God creates individuals as either male or female and that sex cannot be changed.
According to ADF Senior Counsel Hal Frampton, director of the ADF Center for Conscience Initiatives, “As the Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed, the government has no business trying to strip traditional views about sex and gender from the marketplace of ideas. Nor can the state compel Coloradans to speak in ways that violate their deeply held religious beliefs. Born Again Used Books shouldn’t have to continually choose between violating the law and speaking consistent with its Christian beliefs.”
While Born Again Used Books sells its products to all individuals, the owners maintain that being forced to use pronouns and titles inconsistent with biological reality prioritizes a person’s professed identity over what they believe to be biological truth. This, they argue, directly conflicts with their religious convictions.
The bookstore seeks to formalize and publicly publish its policy on biological sex and pronouns, including explaining its religious basis on their blog. However, they assert that CADA makes such actions illegal, potentially subjecting them to significant fines and penalties for refusing to use biologically inaccurate language in their publications, policies, and customer interactions.
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