WOMAN FOR WOMAN: Openly lesbian U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), shown here at a fundraiser for Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.), endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) last week. Photo: Rob Reed
Out Rep. supports presidential hopeful
By Casey Bell
PGN Staff Writer
© 2007 Philadelphia Gay News
WOMAN FOR WOMAN: Openly lesbian U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), shown here at a fundraiser for Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.), endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) last week. Photo: Rob Reed
The first openly homosexual non-incumbent elected to Congress recently backed a Democratic frontrunner in the heated presidential debate.
U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) announced her presidential endorsement of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) on Aug. 2.
Baldwin, who has been in office since 1998, will co-chair Clinton’s Wisconsin campaign, join the campaign’s Health-Care Policy Task Force and co-chair the LGBT Americans for Hillary Steering Committee.
In an Advocate.com interview, Baldwin said she wanted to be clear on all of the candidates’ stances before making an endorsement.
“It was very important to me to see the Democratic field develop and to hear all of these candidates state their positions, in addition to participate in some of these early debates,” she said.
“Tammy is such a strong voice on behalf of those who are too often left out of the political process,” stated Clinton in a press release.
During her Senate tenure, Clinton has backed prominent GLBT legislation, including the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (which would lift the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers) and the Matthew Shepard Hate-Crimes Bill.
Baldwin told Advocate.com she will not ask Clinton for a promise to sign those bills into law if she is elected.
While Clinton has supported GLBT-friendly legislation, she has not supported same-sex marriage.
Advocate.com reported that Baldwin has discussed marriage equality with Clinton and is hopeful the candidate will later back it.
Baldwin said: “Sen. Clinton is supremely prepared and the candidate best able to ensure healthcare for all, reaffirm our commitment to the Constitution and rule of law and re-establish our position of leadership in the world. She will be firm in protecting our national security and fair in addressing the aspirations and needs of all Americans.”
Casey Bell can be reached at casey@epgn.com.