Openly gay legislators Rep. Karen Clark and Sen. Scott Dibble are putting their weight behind House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher in her bid for governor. In a pre-caucus email on Monday, the duo said, “She has stood strong with us and spoken out with passion and eloquence on issue after issue important to the LGBT community, especially during those times when our families, the youth of our community, our dignity and most basic civil rights were under withering attack.”

The email comes a day before DFL caucuses where candidates will vie for the support of party activists in a crowded field of pro-LGBT candidates.

Here’s the full text of the email:

Dear Friend:

Just five months ago, our friend, Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher, launched her candidacy for Governor. In that time, Margaret has earned a number of key endorsements from organizations across the state because she has shown that she is the one candidate running for Governor who can unite people from all walks of life, public employees, construction workers, women, farmers, and legislators from across the state, behind a shared vision for the future Minnesota.Clark, Anderson Kelliher, Dibble

Margaret also has a proven track record of leading on principled, progressive policy. She has stood strong with us and spoken out with passion and eloquence on issue after issue important to the LGBT community, especially during those times when our families, the youth of our community, our dignity and most basic civil rights were under withering attack.

As leader of the House of Representatives, Margaret has had one of the strongest hands in turning the tide, winning legislative elections across the state in the face of these attacks, and now she is working alongside our community for real change for the better, bringing about advances in social justice that impact all of our communities.

· Margaret is a strong supporter of marriage equality for all Minnesotans, will work to advance this legislation, and as governor, sign it into law.

· Margaret authored the Safe Schools for All bill and authored the “Final Wishes” bill to guarantee same-sex partners the right to make the major decisions and to control their partner’s remains after death, and she co-authored a bill to allow a surviving same-sex partner to sue those responsible in the case of wrongful death to recover medical and funeral expenses.

· As Speaker, Margaret passed into law a measure to delay enforcement of medical liens so that a surviving same-sex partner can now continue to live on in their own home.

· Margaret supported the Health Care Securities Act, providing coverage for all Minnesota children, regardless of marriage status of parents. She worked to pass legislation that would allow same sex partners greater access to medical information, and to allow individuals to designate a same sex partner to make health care decisions when unable to make decisions for themselves.

· Margaret worked to provide domestic partner health care benefits for state employees, by including these benefits in omnibus funding bills, but they were vetoed by Governor Pawlenty who also voiced his opposition to the benefits.

When it comes to progressive leadership, Margaret is more than just talk. She knows the importance of coming together for the common good, and she knows how to lead through challenging times. As Speaker, she led a successful veto override that brought about the first progressive transit and highway funding bill in twenty years. She led the way for nation-leading renewable energy standards, ground breaking environmental protections, and she made health care for our children a priority. She got these things done while overcoming a hostile governor during one of the worst economies in generations.

As Governor, Margaret will continue to stand up for Minnesota values – job creation, expanded health coverage and investing in our children’s education. These are tough times and there are no easy solutions. That is why we need a proven leader, a leader who can bring people together, and that leader is Margaret Anderson Kelliher.

In the 2010 election, we have the chance to work together again and ensure that Minnesota has the Governor it deserves. It will take another broad, strong and diverse coalition. We hope you join us in Margaret’s campaign and be part of that effort.

Sincerely,
Senator Scott Dibble & Representative Karen Clark

P.S. Please join us in supporting Margaret at your precinct caucus this coming Tuesday, February 2nd. Find out more at www.margaretforgovernor.com