A Colorado state senator’s paid Capitol internship made faith or ethnic background its first qualification, and critics say that breaks anti-discrimination law.
Story Highlights
- Democratic state Sen. Iman Jodeh’s office posted the $1,000 internship for her Capitol office and that of state Rep. Yara Zokaie.
- The first listed qualification read: “Identify as a Muslim and/or as Middle Eastern, North African, or South Asian.” It came ahead of a 3.5 grade point average and an interest in policy.
- Critics point to federal and Colorado laws that bar hiring based on religion or national origin; one wrote that Republicans “would be in court by lunch” for the same ad.
- Jodeh’s office did not answer requests for comment, and the post was taken down from her Senate office’s Instagram account.
What The Posting Said
The listing drew national attention on Wednesday, November 11, after a popular conservative social media account shared it on X and called it “illegal.” Jodeh had posted the notice on Instagram on Monday, November 9. Jodeh and her office have not explained the identity rule. Reports say her office did not respond to requests for comment from several outlets.
THEY ARE LITERALLY TRYING TO TAKE OVER !
🚨BREAKING: Colorado State Senator Iman Jodeh, celebrated as the first Muslim elected to the Colorado legislature, is advertising a paid internship at the Colorado Capitol that requires applicants to identify as Muslim or as Middle… pic.twitter.com/tBnDr9WO5d
— Johnny U (@Johnnypatriot64) November 12, 2026
The program is called the MENASA & Muslim Joint Legislative Caucus Legislative Intern Program. MENASA stands for Middle Eastern, North African and South Asian. Jodeh and Zokaie, also a Democrat, started the caucus in 2024 to represent people from those backgrounds. When the caucus formed, Jodeh said these communities “face anti-Arab and anti-Brown hate crimes, xenophobia, and discrimination.” Xenophobia means fear or dislike of people from other countries.
The flyer promised “first-hand experience at the Colorado Capitol in Sen. Jodeh and Rep. Zokaie’s offices.” It offered a part-time role during the 2027 legislative session with a $1,000 stipend, a fixed payment for the internship. Beyond identity, applicants had to be undergraduates with at least a 3.5 grade point average and an “interest in policy, social change/justice, and the legislative process.”
Why Critics Say The Rule Crosses Legal Lines
Critics point to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the federal law that bars covered employers from hiring or refusing to hire because of religion or national origin. Federal guidance also says job ads may not state a preference for a certain religion or national origin. The Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, the state’s own fair-hiring law, also bars job discrimination based on religion and national origin.
Critics note that many programs say they want applicants with an “interest in” or “commitment to” certain communities. That kind of wording invites everyone to apply. This flyer instead listed identity itself as the first qualification. One critic wrote that Colorado Republicans “would be in court by lunch” if they posted an internship limited to one faith.
Who Iman Jodeh Is
Jodeh represents Colorado’s 29th Senate District in Arapahoe County, near Denver. Her parents came to the United States from Palestine in 1974. Her campaign biography says she is the first Muslim, first Arab woman and first Palestinian elected to the Colorado Legislature. She is vice chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
This is not the first such listing tied to her. A post from her account on November 22, 2023, sought an intern who identifies as “Muslim or Arab” for what it called the “second annual Arab or Muslim Legislative Internship.”
Where It Stands
As of late Wednesday, November 11, the ad had been removed from the Instagram account for Jodeh’s Senate office but still appeared on Facebook, according to reports. No complaint, investigation or legal action over the internship has been reported. Federal civil rights officials also did not answer requests for comment.
The program has not said whether the identity rule was meant to limit who could apply or only to describe who the caucus hopes to reach. Jodeh’s office has not answered that question in public.
Sources:
newsweek.com, dailycaller.com, dailywire.com, thegatewaypundit.com, colorado.public.law, eeoc.gov
