Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., drew an accusation of discrimination over an October 13 recruitment post on X encouraging racial minorities and LGBTQ+ applicants to seek Boston internships, according to Breitbart and The Western Journal. His official internship page states that his office is an equal employment opportunity employer under Senate rules and applicable federal laws.

“BIPOC, LGBTQ+, working class, veterans, and other underrepresented candidates with Massachusetts ties are encouraged to apply,” the post seeking spring 2027 interns said, according to Breitbart. BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous and people of color. The wording does not explicitly exclude white or heterosexual applicants.

Sen. Ed Markey’s internship recruitment post, as cited by The Western Journal.

“Crazy that a United States Senator can openly violate civil rights law on Twitter,” conservative commentator Christopher Rufo wrote, according to The Western Journal.

“Are straight white men not encouraged to apply?” economist Daniel Di Martino asked, the same report said.

Markey’s official internship page similarly encourages applications from racial minorities, LGBT+ people, working-class candidates, veterans and other communities it describes as underrepresented. A separate Boston communications internship listing expressly states that the office does not discriminate based on race, sex and other characteristics.

Congressional offices are subject to workplace discrimination protections under the Congressional Accountability Act. Those protections extend to unpaid employees, including interns and fellows, according to the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.

Broader federal employment guidance distinguishes expanding recruitment from discriminatory hiring. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s race discrimination guidance permits efforts to broaden an applicant pool while requiring consistent hiring standards across races. Its DEI guidance emphasizes that discrimination protections apply equally to everyone, including white applicants.

The sources reviewed do not establish that Markey’s office rejected anyone because of race or sexual orientation, or that a court or enforcement agency found a violation connected to the post.

The recruitment message identifies groups the office encourages to apply. It does not establish whether those identities affect who gets hired.

Photo: Official U.S. Senate portrait of Sen. Ed Markey. United States Senate, public domain.