Minnesota Democrat Rep. Keith Ellison’s office is hiring interns for the fall and strongly encourages anyone who isn’t a straight, white able-bodied male to send in an application.
“The Office of Congressman Keith Ellison is looking for enthusiastic interns for our Washington and Minneapolis offices. We seek interns who are curious, hardworking, and passionate about serving Minnesota’s 5th district,” Ellison’s Congressional website states.
“While Congressman Ellison encourages all individuals to apply, applicants with strong ties to the Fifth District or Minnesota are preferred,” the page states before adding one final note: “People of color, LGBTQ individuals, women, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.”
The only people not possessing any of the “strongly encouraged” characteristics are white, straight, men without disabilities.
The note specifically requesting interns that aren’t straight, white able-bodied men appears to have been added somewhat recently.
A cached version of the internships page from September contains no such language. The September version also states: “We do not discriminate based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.”
That language has since been removed — the advertisement now contains no guarantees of non-discrimination. Ellison’s office did not immediately return a request for comment.
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan was criticized by Democrats last month for posting a selfie with a group of interns that were heavily-white.
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