Democratic Caucus Chair Imposes Strict Identity Requirements for Leaders, Says Choosing on Merit ‘Absurd’

Caesar Valentine sent an email to the members of the South Carolina Democratic LGBTQ caucus just before 2 p.m. on the first Saturday in August. There would be a Zoom meeting on Monday. Members would have to RSVP to join, wrote Valentine, the black 31-year-old caucus chairman.

They would be voting on the caucus bylaws. There would be a special guest, a congressional candidate. And they would be voting on a caucus secretary, treasurer, and four vice chairs.

But not just anyone could fill the vice-chair positions, Valentine wrote.

“1st– has to...