"If you dream of a world in which you can put your partner's picture on your desk, then put his picture on your desk and you will live in such a world. And if you dream of a world in which you can walk down the street holding your partner's hand, then hold her hand and you will live in such a world. If you dream of a world in which there are more openly gay elected officials, then run for office and you will live in such a world. And if you dream of a world in which you can take your partner to the office party, even if your office is the U.S. House of Representatives, then take her to the party. I do, and now I live in such a world."

"Remember, there are two things that keep us oppressed: them and us. We are half of the equation. There will not be a magic day when we wake up and it's now OK to express ourselves publicly. We must make that day ourselves, by speaking out publicly -- first in small numbers, then in greater numbers, until it's simply the way things are and no one thinks twice. Never doubt that we will create this world, because, my friends, we are fortunate to live in a democracy, and in a democracy, we decide what's possible." -- Tammy Baldwin

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin was first elected to Congress in 1998 to represent Wisconsin's Second District. Tammy's energetic campaign was cited as a rare example of an effective grassroots campaign that motivated younger voters and first-time voters to cast the ballots that got her elected.

Tammy, a lifelong resident of Madison, made history by becoming the first woman from Wisconsin and the first openly gay or lesbian person elected as a non-incumbent to the US Congress.

Tammy was born in Madison and was raised jointly by her mother and her maternal grandparents. Tammy was class valedictorian at Madison West High School. She went onto Smith College in Northampton, MA where she majored in government and mathematics. In 1989, while an active member of the Dane County Board of Supervisors, Baldwin earned her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and practiced law from 1989-1992.

In Congress, Tammy Baldwin serves on the House Budget Committee and the House Judiciary Committee.