Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin leads the way for equal rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.
It is my honor to induct Wisconsin Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D) who has spent her career leading change on behalf of the LGBT community. Throughout her career in public service, Tammy has served proudly as an out lesbian. It is such a pleasure to know Tammy and her terrific partner Lauren, both of whom are warm, engaging people.
I met Tammy shortly after she was elected to congress when I was at the Small Business Administration. We had dinner together with some acquaintances, all of us eager to get to know the new Congresswoman from Wisconsin.
Tammy has a great love for her state. I have often heard her say with pride that not everyone can be from Wisconsin, and she jokes that of course with 90 inches of snow, it is possible that not everyone would want to be.
Congresswoman Baldwin began her career in public service on the Dane County Board and the Madison, Wisconsin City Council. In 1992 she made history when she was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly as the first openly gay person ever to serve in the Wisconsin legislature. As a member of the state legislature, Tammy led on many issues of importance to our community, ranging from her successful leadership to stop a state defense of marriage act, to advocacy for people living with HIV/AIDS.
She made history again when she was elected to Congress in 1998-the first woman ever elected to Congress from Wisconsin and the first non-incumbent LGBT candidate ever elected to Congress. She serves on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Judiciary Committee.
In the House of Representatives, she led the ad hoc whip operation on legislation of critical importance to our community, including successful efforts to defeat the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment, and advance inclusive hate crimes legislation and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). She has been a national leader in the effort to protect individuals based on gender identity.
She is the author of legislation that would extend domestic partner benefits to federal employees, and is a strong supporter of legislation to expand immigration opportunities to permanent partners of U.S. citizens, allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military without discrimination, and ensure fair treatment of LGBT Americans in the federal tax code.
As an articulate, effective and tireless advocate for LGBT rights, Congresswoman Baldwin has earned the respect of her colleagues in Congress and of individuals through out our community.
 | | Induction by Fred P. Hochberg
Fred P. Hochberg was appointed to the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of NY and NJ in August 2008 by Governor Paterson. Mr. Hochberg is the former Dean of Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy, and has more than 30 years of experience in business, government, and philanthropy. He served as acting administrator of the Small Business Administration under President Clinton and was president and COO of the Lillian Vernon Corporation. | |
