“A good person did many good things. She was a nurse and teacher. She was the first openly LGBTQ person elected in Minnesota. She banned discrimination. She helped legalize same-sex marriage. She started an environmental group with her wife. We should remember her.”

“I want to honor former Minnesota State Representative Karen Clark. She served our state for almost 40 years as a nurse, teacher, and lawmaker. She was the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to the Minnesota legislature, where she helped ban discrimination and helped make same-sex marriage legal.”

“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.”