Governing boards of community college districts shall employ for academic positions, only persons who possess the qualifications therefor prescribed by regulation of the board of governors. It is contrary to the public policy of this state for any person or persons charged, by those governing boards, with the responsibility of recommending persons for employment by those boards to refuse or to fail to do so for reasons of race, color, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or national origin of those applicants for that employment.