Out Spotlight

Today's Out Spotlight is the first out lesbian elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. As of 2009, she is one of three openly gay members and is the first openly gay non-incumbent elected to Congress. Today's Out Spotlight is Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin.

Tammy Baldwin was born on February 11, 1962 in Madison, Wisconsin, where she was raised by her mother and maternal grandparents and where she now represents in United States House of Representatives. She graduated top of her class from Madison West High School and went on to attended Smith College, where she received her degree with majors in government and mathematics in 1984.

In 1986, Baldwin was elected to her first public office, the Dane County Board of Supervisors. During her term, she earned her law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. After practicing law from 1989 to 1992, she went on to win a seat as a State Representative for the 78th Assembly District in the Wisconsin State Assembly where she served three terms from 1993 to 1999.

In 1998, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Wisconsin’s Second Congressional District. It made her the first congresswoman from Wisconsin and the first openly gay person non-incumbent to be elected to Congress. While two openly gay men serve in the House of Representatives, she is the only out lesbian.

On July 26, 2004, she spoke at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in prime time on the issue of health care. In 2006, Republicans nominated David Magnum to face Baldwin in her November 2006 bid for reelection. Baldwin retained her seat.

She was elected to her sixth term in 2008. In June of that year she and Congressman Barney Frank with other Members of Congress, who were strongly committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBT people, established The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus. The caucus serves as a resource for Members of Congress, their staff, and the public on LGBT issues, works toward the extension of equal rights, the repeal of discriminatory laws, the elimination of hate-motivated violence, and the improved health and well being for all regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

As Co-Founder and Co-Chair along with Frank of the Caucus, she is leads efforts to advance the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and other civil rights initiatives. She is the lead author of legislation to extend benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. She also was outspoken proponent of DOMA legislation.

In the 112th Congress, she serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, its Subcommittee on Health and its Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy. She is a proponent of increasing energy independence, finding more renewable fuels and efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emission.

She drafted legislation to create a National Greenhouse Gas Registry that was largely incorporated into the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454). It called accurate measurements, consistent reporting and a publicly available database of our emission levels is critical to successfully reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and confronting climate change.

Baldwin is also a leading advocate for universal health care and works at "protecting Social Security from risky privatization schemes, protecting Medicare, and increasing support for public education, including financial aid for higher education."

Her legislation to further research into paralysis and rehabilitation, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, was incorporated into an omnibus bill and signed into law by President Obama on March 30, 2009. Her legislation reauthorizing a program that provides cancer screening to low-income and uninsured women, and another to increase benefits for service members who lose their vision, were both signed into law in the 110th Session of Congress.

She also helped lead efforts in Congress to repeal federal restrictions on stem cell research and is working to ensure opportunities for state innovation and a public plan option in the health care reform legislation now before her Committee.

Baldwin led successful efforts in the House in 2009 to pass expanded hate crimes legislation.

While making the concerns and needs of her constituents a priority she also helps individuals, groups, and municipalities to secure federal grants and contracts; and ensure that her district receives a fair share of federal financial assistance. Since taking office, Baldwin has secured more than $200 million in federal funds for projects throughout her district.

After almost 15 years together, Baldwin and her partner Lauren Azar separated in 2010.

This past Wednesday, Baldwin took part in a panel on "Opportunities for LGBT Equality in this Congress" hosted by eQualityGiving.org where she said she believes the Republican Party is divided on the issue of gay rights.

She said "the fact that House Speaker John Boehner decided against taking a floor vote on whether to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which bans federal recognition of the marriages of gay and lesbian couples, now that President Barack Obama won't, demonstrates that the GOP is divided on the issue."

“They had two paths they could take: They could bring a resolution to the floor directing the general counsel of the House to defend the constitutionality of DOMA, or they could do what they did do which was convene the five top leaders of the House – the three Republicans and two Democrats – and vote to direct the general counsel to defend the constitutionality of DOMA.”



Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (official site)

Baldwin's Twitter

LGBT Equality Caucus

Audio for Opportunities for LGBT Equality in Congress panel.