March 09, 2026 04:01 PM UTC

House Republicans Oppose International Women's Day Resolution After Bizarre Ranting

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• by: Colorado Pols

Colorado Republicans keep finding new ways to demonstrate that they are completely unserious people.

House Republicans in the Colorado legislature have regularly voiced their opposition to honoring Black History Month (HERE and HERE), so perhaps it should be no surprise that they decided to oppose a resolution honoring International Women’s Day. On Monday, only two House Republicans (Matt Soper and Ryan Gonzales) had the good sense to vote in favor of a fairly innocuous resolution (HJR26-1020), which reads:

“Concerning the designation of March 8, 2026, as “International Women’s Day” in Colorado, and, in connection therewith, acknowledging the countless contributions that women have made in history and to contemporary society.”

We know what you’re thinking: Why in the hell would anyone vote against a resolution recognizing International Women’s Day?

Well, we’ll tell you. Here’s a short list of their complaints about the resolution:

♦ Women in the GOP caucus were not approached about the resolution beforehand;

♦  It didn’t mention Trad Wives;

♦ It didn’t mention sports;

♦ It didn’t define the term “woman”;

♦ It didn’t honor men.

Let’s dive in and take a closer look at how 20 House Republicans decided to vote ‘NO’ on a resolution honoring International Women’s Day…

Brandi Bradley

After the resolution was introduced by Democrats Naquetta Ricks and Cecelia Espinoza, Littleton Republican “Boxwine” Brandi Bradley marched to the podium to air her grievances.

Bradley was big mad that House Democrats didn’t approach Republican women about this resolution beforehand. Given what she said next, and what other Republican lawmakers followed up with, you can’t really blame Democrats for not wanting to bang their heads on the wall.

BRADLEY: Every year, this resolution has been bipartisan. That is why many of us on my side of the aisle are disappointed to see how this resolution was brought forward. At no point were Republican women approached to sponsor this resolution. At no point were we asked for our input. At no point did any of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle approach the Republican women serving in this chamber to have a conversation about how to properly honor the brave women who has [sic] formed our state. [Pols emphasis] If the goal was truly, as you stated in your resolution, to exemplify extraordinary courage and resilience by breaking barriers and leaving legacies that continue to inspire generations of women around the world, and working tirelessly to ensure that doors opened by the women who came before us remain open for the next generation of women leaders, thinkers, and change makers, then why was none of the incredible experience and leadership sitting right here within this caucus even considered in that conversation?

Bradley continued by naming various female Republicans in the chamber and pointing out that they are, in fact, women. “Not to mention that many of us in this caucus are also mothers.”

Noted.

Bradley then explained that she didn’t like the wording of the resolution, calling it “fraught with language that intends to divide women across the state.”

Here is the language of the resolution. Good luck finding the divisive parts.

Bradley concluded by saying she is a “NO” vote on the resolution because, while it noted several important women by name — including Republicans — it did not specifically mention a handful of other women that Bradley felt should be included.

Stephanie Luck

Luck spoke on two different occasions about this resolution. Her first appearance at the dais was to say that the resolution should include an amendment adding “matrons to mothers” and “healthy families” to the resolution. Why? Because, as Luck explained, “I know that there are those who mock the idea of a traditional wife.”

Luck’s amendment actually passed unanimously — though she herself later voted ‘NO’ on the entire resolution — but it was her second speech that really raised eyebrows. Luck marched to the microphone to complain that there haven’t been any resolutions honoring…men.

LUCK: In six years I have not seen a resolution dedicated to honoring men. And I wanna take this opportunity as a woman to also honor the men who are here, who are listening, who are out there. It has been pointed out by both sides of the aisle today, the founding origins of humanity, that God made them both male and female. I believe that complementarity is a beautiful thing. And it allows for a thriving that is unparalleled when properly positioned. If you consider a ballroom dance, whether the salsa or a waltz, if either party does not play its proper role, the dance falls apart. The same holds true with men and women. And I think we do a disservice to men by only honoring women. And so I want to thank all of the men in this room for being men. Your identity is not toxic, even though civilization will often say that your very being is anathema to success. You have a role to play. And I genuinely believe that when men step out…

…You as men, when you are walking in the fullness of your particular mantles, when you’re standing in Godly leadership and honorable leadership, you make women ever more beautiful. And I hope that in honoring women, you don’t feel dishonored, because that would not be my intention. [Pols emphasis]

Also, be sure to wash your mantles regularly.

Scott Bottoms

State Rep. Scott “Rock” Bottoms (R-Colo. Springs) naturally needed to inject his idiotic opinion into the record, beginning with a statement about how the mother of Jesus is the most famous woman in the world. Bottoms was very proud to talk about how his “Assemblies of God Fellowship” (Bottoms is a pastor himself) allows women to be in the ministry. After explaining that his grandmother was also a pastor, Bottoms made this boneheaded observation:

BOTTOMS: My wife is ordained (as a minister). That was something she’s only done in the last few years. I’ve been begging her for 35 (years); she finally did that.

At long last, my wife did what I told her to do! Women’s empowerment!

Bottoms went on to explain the Biblical story of how God made the first woman:

BOTTOMS: God took a rib from Adam, and he made Eve. He could have taken a bone from the head, and women would have walked over men. He could have taken a bone from the foot, and men would have walked over women. But he took a bone that protects the heart — protects the innermost of a man — and he creates a woman to walk right beside him and also be a protector.

It definitely would have been awkward for God to take a “head bone” instead of a rib.

Bottoms wasn’t done, however. He was mad that the resolution doesn’t mention Title IX, which gave women the same opportunity as men to play collegiate sports.

BOTTOMS: I would love to see, instead of sexual orientation and gender identity, I’d love to see ‘sports’ put there.

So, instead of this:

WHEREAS, Women and girls contribute to every sector of society and deserve to have their rights and opportunities protected and enhanced, regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or socioeconomic background…

Bottoms wants this:

WHEREAS, Women and girls contribute to every sector of society and deserve to have their rights and opportunities protected and enhanced, regardless of their race, ethnicity, SPORTS, or socioeconomic background…

It’s so weird that nobody asked Bottoms to contribute to this resolution beforehand. The man knows women. And sports.

Ken DeGraaf

Of course, no ridiculous attempted hijacking of sensible legislation would be complete without the input of Rep. Ken “Dildo” DeGraaf (R-Colo. Springs). DeGraaf went to the well to ask for an amendment — which was promptly rejected — that would define a “woman” as “an adult female person who is biologically distinguished by being chromosomically homogenetic (XX), consistent with the genetic characteristics associated with the female sex in human biology.”

DEGRAAF: [We cannot just say] that ‘woman’ is just an assemblage of parts, or a costume, or a feeling.

And…scene!

Again, Colorado Republicans are not serious people interested in doing serious things…or even in having normal discussions about benign resolutions.