Impacting Colorado
With the 2024 Colorado Legislative Session in full swing, we want to bring attention to SB24-011 and HB24-1072. These bills are crucial in creating a safer environment for survivors and they have the potential to influence change nationwide.
The Blue Bench supports SB24-011
Laura, Client Services Co-Director: Advocacy, testified as an advocate to the Colorado Judiciary Committee on Feb. 21 in support of SB24-011: Online-Facilitated Misconduct & Remote Tracking.
This bill addresses the rise in sexual violence on dating apps and online platforms and adds safeguards currently missing from tech-facilitated stalking and digitally modified sexual images.
Holding dating apps accountable: a Denver story
Dr. Stephen Matthews is currently facing 51 felony counts for drugging and sexually assaulting 13 women in the Denver area. Denver Police said victims told them that they met Matthews through dating apps Hinge or Tinder.
SB24-011 would require an online dating service, like Hinge or Tinder, to have a safety policy, noting it is a deceptive trade practice if a service does not have a compliant safety policy. You can read more here about what elements SB24-011 would require.
HB24-1072: Protection of Victims of Sexual Offenses
This bipartisan bill would eliminate an exception under Colorado law that allowed evidence of a survivor's prior or subsequent sexual relationship with the defendant to be entered into court automatically, instead requiring a judge to evaluate the relevance of such evidence.
Your voice matters in getting lawmakers to pass bills that protect vulnerable groups. Stay in the loop and contact your representatives. Let's make a difference together!
With gratitude,
Katie Swick
Communications Coordinator
Save the date! RISE Opens on April 5th
Experience the empowering narratives and resilient artwork by survivors of sexual violence for The Blue Bench's third-annual RISE Art Show. View work throughout April at RemainReal Fine Art Gallery and be inspired by the transformative power of creativity and courage.
Thank you to our sponsors, Alpine Bank, Native Roots, and Meow Wolf, for supporting the voices, stories, and healing journeys of survivors of sexual violence.
Colorado faces a 40% to 50% cut to our annual Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding.
Join The Blue Bench, Violence Free Colorado , and the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) on March 7th to tell state legislators what the devastating Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) cuts will mean for victim service programs and survivors in Colorado.
9News: Funding cuts leave victims of crime without resources
Laura Patlan, Client Services Co-Director: Advocacy, spoke with KUSA-TV, 9NEWS on the importance of VOCA and the impact a 40% to 50% funding cut could have.
Annually, The Blue Bench serves approximately 2,800 survivors. With reduced funding, services would become less accessible, potentially leaving upwards of 1,600 survivors without support.
Join Our Team!
- Volunteer opportunities:
- Hotline Advocate
- Hospital Advocate
- Office Assistant
- Event Volunteer
- Internships:
- Now accepting applications for our Client Services Intern Team:
- Submit a resume and cover letter to Ana Martinez, Client Services Co-Director: Clinical Program at amartinez@thebluebench.org
- Now accepting applications for our Resource Team Internships:
- Submit a resume and cover letter to Becca Tiell-Krekeler, Client Services Co-Director: Resources at rtiell@thebluebench.org
- Now accepting applications for our Client Services Intern Team:
- Open positions:
- Bilingual Case Manager
- Bilingual On-Call Advocate
Quote of the Month:
"Radical simply means 'grasping things at the root'"
- Angela Davis, from her book "Women, Culture, & Politics"
