Colorado Democrats have filed a bill that could make it the first state to decriminalize prostitution, and critics warn that the bill would make the Centennial State the “Wild West” for purchasing sex and lead to an increase in human trafficking.
“We have a billion-dollar budget shortfall here in Colorado, and so there’s a lot of talk about budget and affordability and cost of living,” Jarvis Caldwell, the Republican minority leader in the state House of Representatives, told The Daily Signal in an interview Wednesday.
“This isn’t the Republicans’ idea of making things more affordable, by making it easier to sell yourself for sex,” he quipped.
While some rural areas have legalized prostitution in Nevada, the entire state has not done so. Similarly, Maine decriminalized the selling of sex, but not the buying.
Caldwell noted that Colorado had the 10th highest rate of human trafficking in the United States (both in the raw number of cases and as a per capita rate) in 2023, according to the Colorado-based Common Sense Institute. He also cited a 2012 study from the London School of Economics, finding that foreign countries that legalized or decriminalized prostitution had higher rates of human trafficking.
Caldwell argued that legalization involves setting “rules and guidelines” to regulate a practice, while a “full-on decriminalization,” like this bill offers, “just makes it really the Wild West.”
“It’s a no-holds-barred, no one has to worry about it whatsoever, which is obviously going to drive up demand on the buyer side, and … if you don’t have enough ‘sex workers’ for the demand side, that’s where you get your human trafficking increase,” Caldwell said.
Decriminalizing Prostitution
The bill, SB26-097, requires the statewide decriminalization of “commercial sexual activity among consenting adults.” It decriminalizes both the selling and the purchasing of sex statewide and preempts cities and localities from criminalizing the world’s oldest profession.
The bill repeals state laws imposing criminal penalties for prostitution, soliciting for prostitution, patronizing a prostitute, and a prostitute displaying herself in public. It preserves two criminal penalties: those for using intimidation or menacing to convince someone to become a prostitute and for pimping.
The American Civil Liberties Union has called for the decriminalization of prostitution, which it calls “sex work,” claiming that criminalizing prostitution makes it harder for prostitutes to access health care and other services and “feeds an out-of-control mass incarceration system.”
The Daily Signal reached out to the bill’s Democrat sponsors in the Senate—Nick Hinrichsen and Lisa Cutter—and the House—Lorena Garcia and Rebekah Stewart—for comment, and they did not respond by publication time.
Concern for the Children
Erin Lee, the co-founder and executive director of Protect Kids Colorado, agreed with Caldwell’s concerns.
Lee sued her daughter’s Fort Collins school for allegedly violating her parental rights by encouraging her daughter to transition behind her back.
“I’ve been working really hard to fight child sex trafficking because my girl got put on the conveyor belt of gender trafficking and then it opened my eyes to how many child victims there are in this state,” Lee told The Daily Signal in an interview Wednesday.
The bill would decriminalize “holding a place of prostitution and window displays, so talk about normalizing this practice on Main Street for children,” she said. “It just becomes a normal facet of life for children walking down Main Street to see a place of prostitution, Amsterdam-style.” (Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands, is known for its red-light district.)
“Given OnlyFans culture—these kids are already being brought up to think that it’s normal to sell yourself and everything is highly sexualized for teenagers—I believe it’s a step on the run towards pedophilia,” Lee warned.
Macy Petty, a legislative strategist with Concerned Women for America, told The Daily Signal that Colorado legislators seek to “normalize the buying and selling of humans.” She warned that the legislation “places prostituted women in dangerous situations, increases the risk of violence and exploitation, and reduces women to commodities for sexual purchase.”
Colorado a ‘Testing Ground’ for Radical Bills
Caldwell, the minority leader, noted that Garcia and Stewart previously sponsored HB25-1312, a bill that would have removed kids from parents’ custody if the parents refused to honor the children’s transgender identities. While the bill ultimately passed, Democrats substantially amended it following national outrage.
Chase Davis, lead pastor at The Well Church in Boulder and leader of the Christ Over Colorado movement, told The Daily Signal that the Centennial State has “become their testing ground for bills like this.”
Davis recalled the HB25-1312 debate last year, in which Colorado Democrats compared concerned parents who opposed transgender ideology with the Ku Klux Klan.
Davis warned that many Colorado Democrats “just want to punish Christians.” He recalled the saga of Jack Phillips, the Colorado Christian baker who faced discrimination claims when he refused to craft a custom cake to celebrate a same-sex wedding.
“Last year, they compared anyone who doesn’t believe in radical gender ideology as equivalent to the KKK,” he noted. “They have no interest in partnering with evangelicals—they have nothing but contempt for them.”
When asked if he would describe the bill as groundbreaking, Davis said, “It is groundbreaking only in the sense it’s going to open portals to hell … letting out demons in our state.”
Tyler O’Neil is senior editor at The Daily Signal and the author of two books: “Making Hate Pay: The Corruption of the Southern Poverty Law Center,” and “The Woketopus: The Dark Money Cabal Manipulating the Federal Government.”
Reprinted with Permission from The Daily Signal – By Tyler O’Neil
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
The world is full of evil, God’s patience will only last so long. It seems we are rapidly approaching that time.
Colorado is an embarrassment … they want to make it illegal to own a gun, but not to buy and sell sex and drugs. The state went to pot … literally … when they legalized pot. All the liberal nut jobs moved in from the west coast.
I’m sure the pro Weed crowd will show up today to spam us with comments about how great Prostitution would be if it were legalized. Colorado is lost cause. Leftists are so goofy.
Proof once again that DemoCRAPS bastards (including some republicans) are evil, corrupt, sexual perverted deviates.
“What could go wrong?” Lets see:
For years, the loony left accused conservatives of being anti-science and obsessed with sex. As usual, they were/are describing THEMSELVES! Men can change into women? Covid poke keeps you from getting covid? Carbon dioxide is a poisonous gas? That’s “SCIENCE?” Trans this and that, legal prostitution, kill a baby up to and beyond day of birth? Sounds like THEY are obsessed with sex!!
Democrats, the party that engineered the mass invasion of our country, the party of slavery, the KKK, and segregation now wants prostitution legalized. If democrats brought us prostitution of babies, it wouldn’t surprise me one f@#$ing bit! Democrats are pure evil and anyone voting for them can go to hell with them!
Are they planning on making them state employees, working from government run houses of ill repute, no free lancing, how about overtime, will that be double pay ? And there of course are deductions, taxes, compo, unemployment, sick and vacation time I am assuming they’ll be in the union.
Another reason to drive around the state of Colorado. They have already fried their brains on their drugs. Unbelievable.
This demonic activity and hatred of God-loving Christians is going on all over the world. NO PERSON(S) could cause all of this unbelievable insanity WORLDWIDE. Only 2 Entities have the power to accomplish it & we KNOW who they are. And only one of them would satanically corrupt the world. Revelation foretold it. And consider: liberals/democrats were never so maniacally unhinged until the time Obama came to power…
and nope, I’m no religious fanatic, but I’m not stupid either.
The democrats are doing their best to destroy our great nation by any means possible. Democrats are communists and won’t be happy if God loving, nation loving people are in their way. Democrats are liars, cheats and thieves.
Are they going to put horizontal Harris in charge of it? (Insert Mr Ed horse laugh here)
Colorado has become the most disgusting and sinful state in the union. Potheads and Whores should be the motto on their license plates.
OMG. First off, I couldn’t believe a 1 BILLION dollar SHORTFALL in their budget. A BILLION DOLLARS?? What must their actual budget be. So I Google Colorado’s yearly budget. 43 BILLION DOLLARS! That seems to me like the budget for a small to medium sized COUNTRY. There’s no state that should be spending that much money; you’ll never convince me of the legitimacy of that. TIMO they are wasting it gloriously and/or it’s being stolen hand over fist.
In re this prostitution bill–as well as the “transgender” (no such thing anyway) bill against parental authority, it’s more proof, in our faces, that Demoncrats are 100% determined to turn our country (& the world) into a filthy hell-pit. The evidence is everywhere & cannot be denied. Revelation warns us of this. Satan is temporarily in charge, demons are everywhere among us, and democrats are serving as his minions. Prove me wrong!
Another action that simply proves that our radical liberals always choose the wrong side of sanity and morality. It is frightening that they have so many who follow them especially among our young people. Since it seems to me that more and younger people are engaged in premarital sex, guess I fail to see why we need prostitution to be legalized. No, I am not calling all who have premarital sex prostitutes, but men can simply find a female, get chummy and have sex. Look at celebrities. They have several partners a year. And how about the black men in sports who have many kids all with different women? Think I made my point.
The Slimy Left, aka American Criminal Lawyers Union want child prostitution because they are the customers.
What could go wrong??? Aids, Venereal Disease, Unwanted pregnancies, etc. Should help the divorce rate go up. But what the heck it will increase tourism.
The inmates are truly running the asylum in Colorado. What a disgrace to the United States. Think about the trafficking of women and children. Think about those prostituting themselves (legally) to keep getting high. Think what it will cost for Women’s Shelters, Homeless Shelter increases, and more Drug Rehabilitation facilities. Not to mention the assaults, theft, etc., that will go hand in hand with legalizing prostitution. Legalizing prostitution means in today’s world we will see men doing the same thing. Imagine the fighting and violence that will be involved with this horrible idea. This is not a designated town or area legalizing prostitution, this would be an entire state. This is just another idea that everyone knows is a bad one, but the state will load up on revenue for free-spending liberal policies….. Until the revenue can’t keep up with the cost of all of the programs that will be needed to offset the horrors this idea will create.
There is beauty in each and every state in the US. That said, why … are some of the most beautiful states in America, run by idiots? Washington, Oregon, California … Maine, New York, Colorado … they are run persons, who would be a good fit in asylums for the insane.
Being a prostitute is the world’s second most-evil profession…
Being a politician is the first…
Colorado was one of two first states to legalize recreational marijuana and from that point it’s been in a steady decline. My daughter who has lived in CO for 15 + years is desperately trying to find a way to leave. It’s all in the ‘leadership,’ and when you have leaders who promote everything from homosexuality to abortion and now this….we can expect nothing else. It’s not the outlying areas, ranches, tourism, military, etc., it’s the cities…as it is in most states.
A new way for Democrats to bring back slavery. The Civil War officially began with Democrats attacking the U. S. in April, 1861. Lincoln declared slavery in the rebellious states ended during the war. Democrats have been fighting to get their slaves back ever since. Slavers will always be slavers. It’s in their DNA.
I feel sorry for colorado
These are the same people–political party that wants to change pedophilia from a crime to an illness, if that. Want to refer to them as child-attracted or some sick term. Tell me their ENTIRE AGENDAS are not dictated by their master satan. And all of this filth & sick Agenda began with Obama’s presidency. It’s as if the entire party (and most supporters) became hypnotized or something sick & scary. Not only have they all become corrupted with the sickest, filthiest ideas for everyone, but they absolutely WILL NOT or CANNOT see or admit there’s anything outrageously WRONG with their ideas & policies. Something VERY WRONG.
Satan is a roaring lion running back and forth seeking who he may devour.
I lived in Colorado in 1988 and 1989, moved there from Texas for a new job.
after 2 years I quit and moved back to Texas. I felt like a minority, the liberals there had no trouble letting you know how they felt. Beautiful state except for the people, just like California.
This is very sad and concerning that there is no morals or standards with the dems (commies) I am so blessed to live in Florida but I pray this never passes!!!
Colorado’s Democrats have cheated in elections ever since they got away with it the first time under Ritter they introduce one despicable bill after another, anti-second amendment, anti-Christian, pro-abortion, pro-child abuse, pro-invasion of our border, anti-Coloradan, anti-American, and pro-gambling, pro-drugs, pro-human- and sex-trafficking. They have never seen a tax, fee, or fine they do not like, they assault homeowners with a new tax assessment each year regardless of age and throw the money around to illegals as if it were fertilizer. I pray that their fraud that rivals Minnesota and California will soon be investigated and prosecuted because conservatives in Colorado don’t have a chance to rid their state of this infestation without any outside help as the RNC’s lack of support has shown over the last two decades. It’s sad how many losers we have in the Republican Party who cede all ground to the communists, they would rather tuck tail and run and write a whole state off which is not all what our founders did, it’s sad to see their valor replaced by cowardice.
Every time the democrats open another door for Satan, things get worse in our country. We have an alcohol problem, a drug problem, people who want to be a different sex than current and now Colorado, with all it’s infinite wisdom, offers another opportunity for people to lose their souls. I don’t know that they are ever going to learn about morality, sin and the word of God!
NO
This is insane! There is not enough room on this page or 100’s of pages to say what is wrong this is….it is evil and will do nothing but bring America down as our country was built on high and godly standards.
The perversion of children,trafficking women only serves to make the Pimp a Boss. Eventually what will happen is an ACT OF GOD a will save these Ladies. The people who profess to be reviled by this proposition will not get involved in stopping this law from being ratified. Corruption is a terrible thing. When the leader speaks with a forked tongue it reveals that you are comfortable in the SNAKE PIT that you have turned your state into MR GOVERNOR. Shame on you…….. shame on you.MAGA MAGA MAGA
We all know Jesus died for our sins – this just proves the depth of our depravity. Throughout my 70 years, I have watched politicians pass their ” great ideas” that were never completely thought through & this nation has declined because of them. The word progressive is supposed to mean moving forward – All I’m seeing under Democrat rule is our nation has become more divided, with more crime, corruption,& chaos This just proves we need to pray unceasingly. God is our hope & salvation.He has blessed us with an opportunity to turn back to Him. To work together to save our beautiful nation.
What the heck is happening to my state of Colorado? It has been taken over by left wing idiots. I pray they come to their senses.
Our grandchildren live in CO. Their mother is a County magistrate. I do hope she is coming down on the enforcement side of the law, all laws.
And they’ll most likely fight o lower the legal age for prostitution while they’re at it. Gotta consider the needs of the Epstein groups.
Nevada beat them to it!
And here they all said that legalizing pot would put an end to their shortfall of money??? Just another group of outright liars. VOTE THEM OUT. Evangelicals who don’t vote as much as they should, stop complaining and get out and vote, for the sake of this country. This mid-term election is just as important as the one in November 2024, maybe more so, so that we can keep the good work going.
Colorado will open a can of worms if this bill is passed. These blue state governors ( living in one / Illinois ) will follow suit. The Democratic party is out of control, and look how they acted at the State of the Union address. When will the nonsense stop? It’s only getting worse.
What a horrible state.
Colorado is yet another state that you won’t want to move to. The liberal left socialist/democrat control of this state is destroying it. The liberal politicians and the “highly educated” (many from other liberal states) along the front range now control this state although most of the state is conservative. We are praying that God allows sanity back into our government this November. The democrats have no moral values as we watch the state literally go to He**.
Is this a case of “politicians have been selling themselves for so long that legalizing prostitution will make them feel better about themselves”? How very sad that human chattel seems to be the next best way to solve financial issues.
Why are the Democrats so obsessed with sex?? They seem to be demon possessed!! God’s wrath will be shone soon
May as well say legalizing crime. The same mindset brings you cashless bail, early release of hardened criminals and no prosecution for “minor” crime. Look to other experiments like this to see how things worked out. Two wrongs do not create a right.
Is Colorado as crazy and weird as California, or more stupid?
What could possibly go wrong? lol
Colorado has lost it’s MORAL COMPASS.
How much further are we going “down” to the pit of Hades?
I have grandchildren and great grandchildren, and at my age I am reluctant to move (85), but a “RED” STATE is looking better and better!
I hope our Legislature abandons this modern day “Soddom and Gomorrah”, before all things bad makes Colorado the Cesspool of the US. How many cases of STD’s do we want to treat?
Who and what has infused our State Legislators and Governor with such immoral thoughts.
I am now very concerned for the safety of my grandchildren, sons and daughters. This is not what our Legislators were voted in to do.
So sad to have this lack of “common sense” leadership!
Something very wrong in Colorado.
The goal is legalized systematic euthanasia for Seniors, Invalids and Dissenters. Who once processed by our newest form of cremation “alkaline hydrolysis” yield “Soylent Green”(1973 film) as food. Followed that with “Time Machine” (1960 film) a civilization several thousand years into the future which consists of the subterranean morlocks and the surface dwelling eloi. Eloi are highly domesticated humans farmed as food for the morlocks. Truth is stranger than fiction.
Now Colorado wants to exploit women and men in prostitution. Disgusting, Our country is becoming mentally sick. How about lowering taxes instead giving your citizens more money in their pockets so they can purchase stuff and help the tax base.
First Colorado legalized pot but that was not enough for the democrat’s insatiable appetite for tax revenue, now its prostitution. What will be next?
As long as all the whores are Democrats I think it is a step up for them.May be they will leave the Children alone and just screw there own twisted orange hair bags with nose rings and tattoos all over their Asses and breasts.