I don't know if you've ever been at the very top of your field. Not like big fish in a small pond, but like there aren't people out there who are better at you and your group at what you're doing.
When you look at people applying to join, there's a certain level of people who fit. You can cull the rest, but you'll end up with a bunch of highly qualified people. Each of them brings some strengths to the table, and has other areas where they're not so strong. There are no obvious, objective markers of distinction that clearly mark one person as more qualified or a better fit than another. I think some people with simple minds imagine that there are, but really there aren't. Just sit in on any hiring committee.
In that situation, it is asinine *not* to take into account a person's life story, their culture, their background, their worldview, the obstacles they've overcome, and how they've demonstrated grit, character and want-to in the face of those obstacles. The populations served by DEI are chock full of eminently qualified and amazing people who bring those sorts of stories and perspectives to the table, and you'd be a damned fool not to take those things into consideration. It doesn't mean you discount a person just because they've had an easy life, but you don't count it as a point in their favor if they say "Well, over a snifter of brandy one night Muffy joked that I should apply, and so here I am"
I'm not going to get into a huge back and forth with you on this issue, but I think you are incredibly naive with respect to the positive impacts a former foster youth who has attained excellence could bring to a group, and it's just straight moronic that anyone demands that people *not* take DEI categories into consideration when reviewing applications.