Ilhan Omar

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the incredible life of Minnesota State representative Karen Clark. For nearly four decades, Karen dedicated her life to serving the people of Minneapolis--as a nurse, as an educator, and as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. She was also a trailblazer. Karen made history as the first openly LGBTQ+ candidate to run for office and to win a seat in the Minnesota legislature. She was instrumental in amending the 1993 Minnesota Human Rights Act to ban discrimination against LGBTQ people in employment, education, housing, and more. Two decades later, Representative Clark led the bipartisan effort to legalize same-sex marriage in Minnesota, a landmark accomplishment for equality across our State. After leaving office, she continued her activism and cofounded the Women's Environmental Institute with her wife, Dr. Jacquelyn Zita. Representative Clark's impact will be felt by generations, including by myself.