Politics

Who is Tammy Baldwin? Where does she stand on LGBTQ+ rights?

“After I ran for the county board in 1986 as an out lesbian, there was no going back," she said.
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Who is Tammy Baldwin? Where does she stand on LGBTQ+ rights?
Senator Tammy Baldwin Photo: Wikipedia

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) made history in 1992 when she became the first out gay woman to serve in the Wisconsin Assembly, her home state’s legislative body. Since then, she has remained a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ issues, even helping find Republican supporters for the 2022 Respect for Marriage Act, a federal bill requiring government officials to recognize same-sex marriages.

Tammy Baldwin At a Glance

  • Location: Madison, Wisconsin
  • Party Affiliation: Democrat
  • Race/Ethnicity: White
  • Gender Identity: Female
  • Sexual Orientation: Gay
  • Pronouns: She/Her
  • LGBTQ+ Ally: Yes

Social Media

Biography

Born in Madison, Wisconsin on February 11, 1962, Baldwin was raised by her grandparents since her mother struggled with mental illness and opioid addiction.

She graduated from Massachusetts’ Smith College in 1984 with a double major in political science and mathematics, and from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1989 with a Juris Doctor. She was elected to the Dane County Board of Supervisors and served from 1986 until 1994. She also served one year on the Madison Common Council, a municipal body.

She was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 1992, becoming the first out gay woman to serve in the state legislative chamber. She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1999 and served there until she became a U.S. Senator in 2013, a seat she has occupied ever since.

As a senator, she has sat on numerous committees for appropriations, commerce, science, transportation, health, education, and labor.

Baldwin’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues

“After I ran for the county board in 1986 as an out lesbian, there was no going back into the closet afterwards,” Baldwin once said. She has a long record of unapologetically and effectively advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.

Same-sex marriage

Baldwin herself has a long-term domestic partnership with a woman. Baldwin lobbied Republicans to support the Respect for Marriage Act, a law that requires states and the federal government to recognize legal same-sex marriages. She voted for the law before its successful 2022 passage and said it was necessary to protect same-sex marriage rights should a future Supreme Court ever try to overturn the 2015 decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

Trans children in sports

Baldwin has opposed bills that would ban transgender women and girls from participating on women’s and girls’ sports teams, saying, “These bills have no place in [Wisconsin]. We’re elected to help the people we serve, not harm them.”

In an October 2023 post on X, formerly Twitter, Baldwin wrote, “Trans kids deserve to feel safe and welcome in Wisconsin, not discriminated against. They deserve the freedom to just be kids, play sports, and get the health care they need, all without politicians butting in.”

Transgender access to public bathrooms

Baldwin has stood up for the rights of trans students and employees to access bathrooms matching their gender identity.

In an October 2020 letter, she wrote that, in light of the 2020 Bostock v. Clayton County Supreme Court decision equating LGBTQ+ discrimination with sex-based discrimination, the government should adopt protections against discrimination consistent with the court’s ruling.

Don’t say gay/LGBTQ+ discussions in schools

In a July 2023 post on X, formerly Twitter, Baldwin alluded to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis‘ (R) bans on LGBTQ+ books in schools, writing, “Ron DeSantis has signed some of the nation’s most draconian and hateful policies into law, including a book ban targeting any stories written by or about LGBTQ+ people.”

“I’ve fought tirelessly against anti-LGBTQ+ extremism from right-wing politicians like DeSantis,” her post continued. “As anti-LGBTQ+ attacks continue to rise across the country, advocating for our rights and freedoms… has never been more critical.”

Discrimination protections

In 2023, Baldwin co-sponsored the Equality Act, a bill that would include sexual orientation and gender identity in federal anti-discrimination statutes; the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act, a bill that would require most colleges and universities to enact anti-harassment policies that include sexual orientation, gender identity, and cyberbullying; and the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act, a bill that would require federal surveys to include questions on LGBTQ+ identities.

In 2021, Baldwin introduced a resolution for the federal government to apologize for its past mistreatment of LGBTQ+ individuals. The resolution didn’t pass the Senate. She has also supported the end of discriminatory blood donation policies that exclude men who have sex with men.

Baldwin’s career

  • Graduated from Massachusetts’ Smith College in 1984
  • Graduated from University of Wisconsin Law School in 1989
  • Elected to Dane County Board of Supervisors, served from 1986 until 1994
  • Served one year on Madison Common Council
  • Elected to Wisconsin Assembly in 1992
  • Elected to U.S. House of Representatives in 1999
  • Elected to U.S. Senate in 2013

In conclusion

Baldwin has neither backed down from supporting queer issues nor from persuading moderate conservatives to support them as well, something that’s admirable considering the vehemently anti-LGBTQ+ stances of her congressional colleagues’ party.

Stay informed about her career by subscribing to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter.

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