A Colorado mother’s desperate fight to bring her daughter home from an LGBT activist teacher exposes alarming failures in the systems meant to protect families, while banker Jay Davidson delivers a compelling case for constitutional freedoms and taxation limits, and Professor Kurt Gerwitz explores what legacy truly means.
Lori Gimelshteyn of the Colorado Parents Advocacy Network introduced Cindy Stein, a Durango mother whose story illustrates how transgender activism can infiltrate schools and target vulnerable children. While Cindy battled aggressive cancer treatment, math teacher Joanne Smotherman allegedly befriended her autistic daughter and convinced her she was born in the wrong body.
“I just didn’t realize how far this had gone and how much Joanne Smotherman was apparently whispering in her ear, telling her that all of these problems of being a misfit, of being an outcast, are because she was born into the wrong body.”
The situation escalated when Cindy’s daughter ran away to live with the teacher and her transgender husband. Despite Cindy having full custodial rights, La Plata County deputies refused to return her daughter, with body cam footage showing officers mocking the distraught mother before delivering the news that they would not help.
“The body cam footage of the police on scene is available on our X account. It’s so alarming how the system has failed this mom. She has full custodial rights.”
Lori Gimelshteyn, Colorado Parents Advocacy Network
Gimelshteyn announced the Rocky Mountain Summit on Safeguarding Children from Gender Affirming Treatment on April 6th at the Inverness Hilton in Englewood. The first Colorado event offering physicians CME credit on this topic will feature Dr. Miriam Grossman, Deputy Counsel Candace Jackson from the U.S. Department of Education, and for the first time publicly, 16-year-old Chloe Lee speaking about her experience.
Jay Davidson, founder of First American State Bank, delivered a wide-ranging discussion on individual liberty, government waste, and what it means to live in a constitutional republic rather than a pure democracy.
“You have the inalienable right to freedom of choice to your own decisions. This is gratitude by your creator, whether you call him God or Jehovah or Elohim. So you have that right, and I would ask you to exercise it judiciously, but do exercise it.”
Jay Davidson, First American State Bank
Davidson praised DOGE and Elon Musk’s methodical approach to exposing government waste, noting his astonishment at the extent of wasteful spending uncovered, including USAID funding for Hamas transgender training programs. He framed excessive taxation as theft, particularly when combined state, local, and federal taxes approach 50 percent of income.
“When taxation gets to the point of 50% of your income, that is absolute theft. And that’s where we are right now at the very high end of the scale with all the state, local, regional, and federal taxes.”
Jay Davidson, First American State Bank
Award-winning realtor Karen Levine discussed the spring selling season and the connection between property rights and building wealth in America. She noted that prepared, well-staged homes are receiving multiple offers, and shared that citrus scents are safer than vanilla for home showings due to widespread allergies.
“Private property rights and homeownership is the key to building wealth in America. And as you were referring to public policy, what our legislators are doing over time have taken away many of those rights and have made affordability very complicated and difficult.”
Karen Levine, RE/MAX Alliance
Professor Kurt Gerwitz, known as the Legacy Catalyst speaker, explored what it means to think beyond the present moment. Teaching startup finance to immigrant students at DU, he emphasized the transformative power of financial education and the American dream of economic mobility.
“What do you hope people will say about you at your 80th birthday party? For me, it’s like I just want to have lived the fullest life that I could, that I helped people feel free from their own inhibitions and anxieties because I was free from mine.”
Kurt Gerwitz, Legacy Catalyst
Kim announced the launch of CUT Engaged, a new tool allowing citizens to easily contact legislators about pending bills. Three bills are featured: HB25-1269 on building decarbonization, SB25-025 on coal transition grants, and a special district tap fee bill benefiting federal center developers. Visit coloradotaxpayer.org to make your voice heard.
Episode from The Kim Monson Show
Episode from The Kim Monson Show
Episode from The Kim Monson Show