Gay Marriage Hero.

Tammy Baldwin Baldwin, at the age of 37, was the first woman elected to Congress from the state of Wisconsin, and is currently serving her fifth term. She was also the first ever openly gay non-incumbent to be elected to the House of Representatives, her election having won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. As of January 6, 2009, Baldwin is one of three openly gay members of Congress, the others being Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Jared Polis of Colorado.

She is a leading advocate for universal health care and a proponent of energy independence and renewable fuels. Tammy is also a forceful supporter of civil rights and an advocate for those in our society whose voices, too often, are not heard. In the 110th Congress, she led successful efforts in the House to pass expanded hate crimes legislation and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and will lead efforts this session to advance these and other civil rights initiatives. She is the author of legislation to extend benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. In health care, Tammy’s 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.

Tammy and her partner, Lauren Azar, live in Madison in a house built in 1894 which they have restored. Tammy exemplifies gay marriage as an outstanding American public servant.