Matt Entenza has a long history of advocating for equal rights for all Minnesotans. As governor, he has pledged to continue that drive, with a governor's office that looks like and represents all the people of the state of Minnesota.

Watch Matt's video, "Our Communities, Our Future."

Women's Equality

When the economy is bad, when we remove any safety net from underneath those most likely to need it, and when we make health care less accessible and education less affordable, as Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the GOP have done, women often feel the effects most.

I was raised primarily by my mother and grandmother after my father abandoned our family. My mom, a public health nurse, and my grandmother, a community banker who retired at age 84, taught me a high level of respect for what women contribute to our communities and showed me the value of hard work, service to the public and the need for equal treatment and opportunity.

We face the reality that women – overwhelmingly women who work hard to keep their families going strong – head 80 percent of single-parent households, including 62 percent of the 5.8 million American households with children living in poverty.

So when I became a leader in the Minnesota House of Representatives, I championed legislation to make sure women and families could get on firm footing and build a successful future.

• I have led on legislation for major improvements in caring for our families. I spearheaded efforts for better enforcement and collection of child support, worked with Governor Carlson to reform child protection services and carried legislation for increased eligibility for child care subsidies. I championed domestic violence prevention and was awarded the Legislator of the Year Award by the Coalition for Battered Women.

• I have strongly supported education and health care access. In 2005, I refused to allow Tim Pawlenty to make devastating cuts to education and MinnesotaCare, the health care program for working Minnesotans who can’t afford health insurance – cuts that would have had a particularly harsh impact on women needing treatment for cancer.

• I have been a steadfast supporter of a woman’s right to choose. I believe strongly in a culture of freedom and responsibility. Women, with their doctors, family and faith, are and must be responsible for decisions about their health and reproduction. I have consistently received a score of 100 percent from NARAL-Pro Choice Minnesota.

• I support passage of the Constitutional Amendment for Equality (CAFE). The amendment reads: Equality of rights under the law shall not be abridged or denied by the state of Minnesota or any of its political subdivisions on account of gender. The legislature may enforce the provisions of this section by appropriate legislation. Members of the Minnesota Legislature have been introducing an equal rights amendment to our state constitution every year since 1983. From 1995 through 2003, I sponsored legislation to incorporate an equal rights amendment into Minnesota’s constitution.

My commitment to women’s rights is unwavering. This isn’t just about legislation or programs; this is about creating an environment in which all people can achieve their dreams. Minnesota faces many challenges, but challenges always present opportunity. To take full advantage of the opportunities in front of us, we need the skills and talents of everyone in our communities. If we do not fight for equality, if we do not work to ensure everyone reaches her potential, we will be short-changing our state and our future.

GLBT Community

• Co-authored the first Minnesota bill for marriage equality. In 1998, because he believes it's wrong for the government to say some adults can have rights and some cannot, Entenza introduced a bill on the floor of the House that would have redefined the legal definition of marriage to explicitly include two persons of the same gender.
• Opposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. In 2004 and 2005, Entenza was a vocal critic of efforts to amend Minnesota's constitution to exclude gays and lesbians from the legal definition of marriage.
• Supported domestic partner benefits for state employees. In 2001, Entenza supported providing domestic partner benefits to gay and lesbian employees of state departments and agencies. He opposed efforts by Republicans to exclude such partnership benefits from a union contract then under negotiation.
• Authored legislation on hate crimes. Entenza co-authored a bill to increase the penalties faced by those convicted of a crime based on sexual orientation.
• Endorsed by Stonewall Caucus in every election. Since his first State House race in 1994, Entenza has been endorsed by the Stonewall DFL caucus every time he has run for office.

Watch Matt's video, "Pride."

People with Disabilities

Right now times are tough for a lot of people, but when bad economic times come, some people get hit harder than others. For many of the nearly one in six Minnesotans living with a disability, this is especially true.

As we’ve seen budgets shrink, we’ve seen a corresponding squeeze on funds for human services. We are better than this. Minnesotans recognize that our communities are stronger when all of us can contribute and use our abilities. Throughout my career I have worked to ensure people with disabilities have our support as they work to build the successful lives all of us want.

• I have been a leader on funding for special education and programs for people with disabilities. In the state legislature, I authored numerous bills expanding access to programs for people with disabilities and increasing support for them. These include aid to low-income families who have children with disabilities, workforce and skills development programs and resources to create better access to public libraries.

• I have championed equal rights of people with disabilities. I wrote and got passed a bill that expanded the definition of “disabled” to include deaf-blind citizens, authored bills to ensure charter and non-traditional schools complied with state laws related to equal rights and non-discrimination. I pressed for a bill of rights for deaf, deaf-blind and hard-of-hearing students and fought to ensure equity in transportation for students with disabilities.

• I increased consumer protections for people with disabilities. As a former white-collar crime prosecutor, I know that big business doesn’t always have our best interests at heart. That’s why I authored and got signed into law warranties for people buying or leasing assistive devices like hearing aids and wheel chairs. Before this there were none. I also pushed for state standards to increase and guarantee the competency of sign language interpreters.

• I helped create the deaf and hard-of-hearing services division within the commission of human services. I authored legislation that created the division and improved services for deaf and hard-of-hearing citizens.

• I received the STAR Award for Excellence in 1996 for my work on assistive technology for people with disabilities.

People with disabilities are a vital part of our communities. We need to do all we can to leverage everyone’s unique abilities and skills in order to make Minnesota work again.

Somali Community

• Carried legislation for the Councils of Color. As a freshman legislator, in 1995 and 1996, Entenza authored a bill to save the funding for the Black Minnesotans Council.
• Carried legislation to end housing discrimination. Authored legislation to eliminate housing discrimination
  across Minnesota. His legislation helped both home buyers and renters.
• Authored legislation for employment assistance. Authored legislation to help new and emerging Minnesota communities find employment.
• Served on the board of the Minnesota Minority Education Partnership. Entenza served on the commission whose chief intent is to help young people from communities of color go to college.
• Authored legislation to diversify Minnesota's teachers. Entenza carried legislation that helped people in
  mid-career become teachers, increasing the number of teachers of color. This funding was later eliminated by Governor Tim Pawlenty.
• Fought for increased funding for ESL. Worked to get increased funding for school districts with large populations of children whose first language wasn't English.
• Protected human rights. In 1997 Entenza was the chief author of a bill to determine the effectiveness of the Human Rights Act to ensure that discrimination based on race was being reduced and the Act was working.
• Chief-authored the "Adult Basic Education Act." This act was passed to increase adult literacy across Minnesota. Before the act passed, there were long waits for adults trying to become literate in English. This act eliminated those waits for people across the state. This funding was later eliminated by Governor Tim Pawlenty.
• Authored legislation on hate crimes. Entenza co-authored a bill to increase the penalties faced by those convicted of a crime based on race or religion.
• A governor's office that reflects Minnesota's diversity. Matt Entenza pledges to have a governor's office that looks like and represents all the people of the state of Minnesota.
• Creating a welcoming environment. As governor, Entenza will create an environment that welcomes diversity and recognizes that most the vast majority of Minnesotans came here from other places.
• Strengthening relationships. Under Matt Entenza the governor's office will work with and strengthen the relationships with the Councils of Color.

Somali Translation: Matt Entenza Markuu Madax ka ahaa Golaha Xildhibaannadda ee innesota (House of Representatives) Xeerarka uu Dejiyay  Golaha ka nsixiyey waxa ka mid ahaa...

Latino Community

• Carried legislation to save the Councils of Color. As a freshman legislator, 1995 and 1996, Entenza authored a bill to save the funding for the Spanish Speaking Affairs Council (later renamed the council on affairs of Chicano Latino people).
• Carried legislation for the Chicano-Latino Council. Authored legislation to eliminate housing discrimination across Minnesota. His legislation helped both home buyers and renters.
• Served on the Commission for Chicano-Latino Council. Entenza served on the Chicano-Latino Council to help screen candidates for a new director, helping shape the direction and priorities that the council would take.
  Authored legislation for employment assistance. Authored legislation to help members of new and emerging Minnesota communities find employment.
• Served on the board of the Minnesota Minority Education Partnership. Entenza served on the commission whose chief intent is to help young people from communities of color go to college.
• Authored legislation to diversify Minnesota's teachers. Entenza carried legislation that helped people in mid-career become teachers, increasing the number of teachers of color. This funding was later eliminated by Governor Tim Pawlenty.
• Fought for increased funding for ESL. Worked to get increased funding for school districts with large populations of children whose first language wasn't English.
• Protecting human rights. In 1997 Entenza was the chief author of a bill to determine the effectiveness of the Human Rights Act to ensure that discrimination based on race was being reduced and the Act was working.
• Chief author of the "Adult Basic Education Act." This act was passed to increase adult literacy across Minnesota. Before the act of passed, there were long waits for adults trying to become literate in English. This act eliminated those waits for people across the state. This funding was later eliminated by Governor Tim Pawlenty.
• Authored legislation on hate crimes. Entenza co-authored a bill to increase the penalties faced by those convicted of a crime based on race or religion.
• A governor's office that reflects Minnesota's diversity. Matt Entenza pledges to have a governor's office that looks like and represents all the people of the state of Minnesota.
• Creating a welcoming environment. As governor, Entenza will create an environment that welcomes diversity and recognizes that most the vast majority of Minnesotans came here from other places.
• Strengthening relationships. Under Matt Entenza, the governor's office will work with and strengthen the relationships with the Councils of Color.

En Español: Derechos Humanos. Presentó legislación para conservar los Consejos de Personas de Color..

Hmong Community

• Carried legislation for the Councils of Color.  As a freshman legislator, in 1995 and 1996, Entenza authored a bill to save the funding for the Asian-Pacific Minnesotans Council.
• Authored legislation for employment assistance. Authored legislation to help new and emerging Minnesota communities find employment.
• Served on the board of the Minnesota Minority Education Partnership.  Entenza served on the commission whose chief intent is to help young people from communities of color go to college
• Authored legislation to diversify Minnesota's teachers.  Entenza carried legislation to help Hmong people already working in Minnesota schools get bachelor's degrees and teaching certificates.  This program was later eliminated by Governor Tim Pawlenty. 
• Fought for increased funding for ESL.  Worked to get increased funding for school districts with large populations of children whose first language wasn't English.
• Protecting human rights.  In 1997 Entenza was the chief author of a bill to determine the effectiveness of the Human Rights Act to ensure that discrimination based on race was being reduced and the Act was working.  
• Chief author of the "Adult Basic Education Act."  This act was passed to increase adult literacy across Minnesota.  Before the act passed there were long waits for adults trying to become literate in English. This act eliminated those waits for people across the state.  This funding was later eliminated by Governor Tim Pawlenty.
• Authored legislation on hate crimes. Entenza co-authored a bill to increase the penalties faced by those convicted of a crime based on race or religion.
• Believes Hmong veterans should have benefits. "I believe Hmong veterans should have the same benefits American veterans have. They heeded our nation's call and sacrificed greatly. It's unacceptable that they have anything less." - Matt Entenza
• A governor's office that reflects Minnesota's diversity.  Matt Entenza pledges to have a governor's office that looks like and represents all the people of the state of Minnesota. 
• Creating a welcoming environment.  As governor, Entenza will create an environment that welcomes diversity and recognizes that the vast majority of Minnesotans came here from other places.
• Strengthening relationships.  Under Matt Entenza, the governor's office will work with and strengthen the relationships with the Councils of Color.
• Carried legislation to end housing discrimination.  Authored legislation to eliminate housing discrimination across Minnesota.  His legislation helped both home buyers and renters.

In Hmong