Colorado Legislative Internship Limits Applicants by Identity

A paid internship advertised by Colorado state Sen. Iman Jodeh requires applicants to identify as Muslim or belong to Middle Eastern, North African or South Asian communities. The program is for the 2027 legislative session and is run through the joint caucus Jodeh shares with state Rep. Yara Zokaie.

The flyer lists a $1,000 stipend and other qualifications, including undergraduate enrollment, a minimum 3.5 GPA and availability for part-time work during the session. The identity requirement appears among the first listed qualifications.

The announcement drew criticism online, including comparisons with a hypothetical internship restricted to Christians or people of Northern European descent. One commenter said they had applied for an earlier internship and received no response. Jodeh also advertised an internship in 2023 requiring applicants to identify as Muslim or Arab.

The posting has raised questions about whether restricting a paid public-sector position by religion or national origin complies with federal and Colorado anti-discrimination laws. Federal law prohibits employment discrimination based on religion and national origin, while Colorado law also bars discrimination against employees based on protected characteristics including those categories.

Jodeh and Zokaie established the caucus in 2024. Jodeh has said it aims to elevate representation and address discrimination and hate affecting communities with MENASA heritage, which include people of several religions. Jodeh and relevant federal civil-rights agencies did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.

A Representation-Focused Internship Faces a Legal Challenge

Colorado Sen. Iman Jodeh’s internship program is intended to serve a community whose members, she has said, face xenophobia, discrimination and hate crimes. The paid Capitol position for the 2027 session is offered through a joint caucus formed by Jodeh and Rep. Yara Zokaie to elevate representation for Muslim and Middle Eastern, North African and South Asian communities.

The flyer specifies that applicants must identify as Muslim or have MENASA heritage. It also lists undergraduate enrollment, a 3.5 GPA minimum and part-time availability, and offers a $1,000 stipend. Jodeh previously advertised an internship requiring applicants to identify as Muslim or Arab.

Critics have challenged the identity requirement and raised questions about whether it is lawful for a paid public-sector job. Federal and Colorado laws prohibit employment discrimination based on religion and national origin. The dispute puts the caucus’s effort to create space for communities facing discrimination under scrutiny, while leaving the legal question unresolved in the available information.

Jodeh has said the caucus should represent people of varied faiths with MENASA heritage, including Sikh, Baháʼí, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian communities. Jodeh and federal civil-rights agencies did not respond to requests for comment by publication.

Colorado Senator’s Paid Internship Uses a Religious Identity Test

A Colorado state senator’s paid internship puts a basic fairness question in focus: should a public office limit applicants by religion or ancestry? Sen. Iman Jodeh’s flyer for the 2027 legislative session says candidates must be Muslim or come from Middle Eastern, North African or South Asian backgrounds.

The position, offered through a joint caucus with Rep. Yara Zokaie, provides a $1,000 stipend and also requires undergraduate enrollment, a minimum 3.5 GPA and part-time availability. Federal law bars employment discrimination based on religion and national origin, and Colorado law protects employees from discrimination on those grounds. The requirement has prompted questions about whether the policy complies with those laws.

Online critics contrasted the flyer with a hypothetical internship limited to Christians or people of Northern European descent. One commenter said they had applied for an earlier Jodeh internship and never received a response. In 2023, Jodeh also advertised an internship requiring applicants to identify as Muslim or Arab.

The caucus says its mission includes protecting civil rights and addressing xenophobia and Islamophobia. Jodeh has also said MENASA communities span multiple faiths and face discrimination. Those aims do not resolve the concern raised by using religious or ethnic identity as a qualification for a paid Capitol position. Jodeh and federal civil-rights agencies did not respond to requests for comment by publication.