Voice for Equality: Tammy Baldwin

Tammy Baldwin is currently serving her fifth term as a U.S. representative for Wisconsin’s 2nd district, which includes her hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. She attended Smith College and received her law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1986, while still in law school, Tammy began her foray into politics by serving on the Dane County Board of Supervisors, a position she held until 1994. Tammy subsequently served on the Madison, Wisconsin City Council and then the Wisconsin State Assembly, until assuming the office of U.S. Congresswoman in 1999.

Congresswoman Baldwin has been a trailblazer on many fronts. She is the first woman to represent Wisconsin in the U.S. Congress. Moreover, she was the first ever openly gay non-incumbent and first lesbian to be elected a U.S. Representative. She has been a strong voice for equality for gay Americans and serves on the House Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

On her websites she states:

"I believe in full marriage equality for gays and lesbians. Our constitutional system - the checks and balances between the three co-equal branches of government - was created to ensure the protection of minority rights, and throughout history many groups of individuals have sought such protections from their government. Today, people who want the protections of marriage laws for their same sex partnerships are petitioning their government."

Her other committee assignments include the Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment as well as the Subcommittee on Health. In 2008, she was featured in a coveted primetime spot at the Democratic National Convention speaking on the topic of healthcare.

Freedom to Marry salutes Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin as a Voice for Equality!

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