Imagine a government internship that accepted only white Christians. The backlash would be swift and, likely, sustained.
BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales is criticizing a Colorado legislative caucus over an internship flyer that lists religion and ethnic background among its qualifications.
Gonzales compared the posting to a previous controversy over a water park event advertised for Muslims, saying the episode apparently hadn’t prompted enough reflection. She argued that this latest flyer was different because it came from a lawmaker, rather than an unaffiliated individual or group.
The flyer, shared by the Joint MENASA & Muslim Caucus, invites applicants to gain experience in the Colorado Capitol offices of Sen. Jodeh and Rep. Zokale. Under “Qualifications,” it says applicants should “identify as a Muslim and/or as Middle Eastern, North African, or South Asian.”
Gonzales noted that the list does not mention white applicants. She characterized the requirement as discriminatory, saying non-Muslims and white Christians need not apply.
The caucus describes itself as the first of its kind and says it aims to amplify Muslim and Middle Eastern voices. Gonzales questioned why a state lawmaker would need to do that, and argued the internship’s criteria could exclude people outside those communities.
She also questioned whether the requirements comply with employment rules, which she said prohibit discrimination based on characteristics such as race, gender, religion, or disability. “This is not a thing that you are allowed to do,” she said.
