A Colorado Democratic state senator is facing growing scrutiny after promoting a taxpayer-supported legislative internship whose advertised qualifications explicitly include religious and ethnic identity.
State Sen. Iman Jodeh (D), recognized as the first Muslim elected to Colorado’s legislature, is at the center of the controversy after a recruitment flyer for the MENASA & Muslim Joint Legislative Caucus listed a specific identity requirement as its first qualification.
The wording has raised serious questions about whether a government-sponsored opportunity is being restricted based on characteristics that federal and state employment laws generally protect.
The advertisement states that prospective applicants must:
“Identify as a Muslim and/or as Middle Eastern, North African, or South Asian.”
That language is particularly significant because the requirement does not simply ask candidates to demonstrate an interest in Middle Eastern affairs, Muslim communities, public policy, or cultural issues. It expressly identifies religious and regional background as a qualification for consideration.
