"…Especially When Children are At Stake."

There’s a reason Erin Lee has earned the 2026 America’s Women Fearless & Free Award at our Strong Women. Strong Nation Summit! We know that every woman can be empowered to shift culture for good—right where she lives…. And she might actually impact the whole nation in the process! As Erin says in this week’s blog, “shifting culture requires action, not passive concern.” 

Come see her—along with our Keynote speaker, Peggy Grande (tickets and info here)!... Read Erin’s amazing story, and her message to America’s Women. Here are some of my favorite quotes: 

“Truthfully, I am a very private, nonconfrontational person. Media appearances were never the goal. Protecting kids is. But if speaking out helps even one parent safeguard their child or feel less alone, every uncomfortable moment has been worth it.” …“Ordinary people can still accomplish extraordinary things, especially when children are at stake.” 

America’s Women is right there with you, Erin! Let’s Go! ~ Kim  

How Erin Lee Became Fearless & Free 

As a mom of three from Northern Colorado, I never imagined stepping into the public square. 

Five years ago, I was a typical, politically and culturally apathetic mom. Then our family was thrust into a battle we never asked for when our 12-year-old daughter was recruited into a secret gender and sexuality club at school by a “trusted” teacher. She was sexualized, secretly transitioned into a boy, connected with predatory adults in the community, and encouraged to keep it all hidden from us. 

When we sought help, doctors, therapists, and even family members urged us to affirm her confusion. When we refused, the school district involved child protective services.  

After a year-long fight to rescue our daughter from the darkness of wrong-sex confusion, I chose to speak publicly about what happened. Our story went viral. In the aftermath, I realized how many other families were living through similar heartbreak — often worse, and often in silence. What happened to us changed the course of my life. 

I lost my HR career for speaking publicly about our experience. Our family faced intense hostility within our own community. The district sent misleading communications about us, and organized activists to intimidate me at school board meetings.  

We saved our girl. We pulled our other children out of public schools. We could have left Colorado and quietly moved on. But I couldn’t stay silent. 

I kept being loud, traveling the state to inform parents and small and large groups alike. I founded Stop Gender Ideology to support families desperately searching for answers when their child becomes caught in public school grooming and rapid-onset gender dysphoria. We filed a federal lawsuit against our district, led by Pam Bondi, and when Justice Samuel Alito described our experience as “troubling and tragic,” urging lower courts to address secret school transition policies, it affirmed what we already knew: that this is a serious issue demanding national attention. 

I also co-founded Protect Kids Colorado, where I serve as Executive Director — a big-tent, grassroots coalition where everyone is welcome, where unity turns into action, and where We the People take our power back in a state that too often tells citizens they have none. 

Along the way, I’ve shared our story and contributed to national media outlets such as Fox News and The Wall Street Journal, produced a film about our family’s experience titled Art Club, and participated in multiple projects shining a light on the growing crisis facing children and families, including the new Angel Studios documentary The Death of Recess. 

Truthfully, I am a very private, nonconfrontational person. Media appearances were never the goal. Protecting kids is. But if speaking out helps even one parent safeguard their child or feel less alone, every uncomfortable moment has been worth it. 

That’s why this latest milestone is so deeply personal. 

This week, Protect Kids Colorado submitted an unprecedented number of volunteer-gathered signatures to qualify for the ballot. After six tireless months of petition circulation, with limited funding or support, we turned in roughly 170,000 signatures to qualify three ballot measures focused on protecting children. 

More than 3,300 volunteers, 2,000 notaries, and 500 churches across Colorado joined this effort — people from every walk of life who set aside differences because protecting kids transcends politics. Because shifting culture requires action, not passive concern. 

Collecting signatures in the snow, outside grocery stores, at sporting events, and in neighborhoods across the state was not glamorous work. At times, it was difficult, even dangerous. But it was deeply meaningful work. Every signature represented someone willing to say, “Enough. I will stand for kids.” 

What began as one mother’s fight has grown into a statewide movement of parents, grandparents, volunteers, and everyday citizens who believe children deserve protection and parents deserve transparency — a movement that could be replicated anywhere. 

In a state like Colorado, it’s easy for parents to feel discouraged, even powerless. But these ballot measures demonstrate something profoundly important: grassroots courage still matters. Ordinary people can still accomplish extraordinary things, especially when children are at stake. 

The fight is not over — but today, we celebrate. 

For my daughter. For your children. For Colorado. For our nation.