FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | February 20, 2008

The National Center for Lesbian Rights to Honor Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin at 2008 Anniversary Celebration

Representative Lauded for Her Leadership in LGBT Legislation

(San Francisco, California, February 20, 2008)—The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) announced today that Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) will be honored at the 2008 Anniversary Celebration festivities on May 31, 2008 at the Westin St. Francis and the Metreon in San Francisco. NCLR is the nation’s premier national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education.

Congresswoman Baldwin will receive the 2008 Community Vision Award for her commitment to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights advocacy in Congress. Her leadership in support of an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would include protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation as well as gender identity, is exemplary of her lifelong pursuit of justice and equality for all Americans. When Congress announced plans to vote on a non-inclusive version of ENDA, which would omit protections for transgender Americans, Congresswoman Baldwin submitted The Baldwin Amendment in order to restore gender identity protections to the bill.

This year, NCLR is celebrating its 31st anniversary with an evening of dinner, dancing, and a sell-out crowd of more than 2,000 supporters from across the country to recognize the groundbreaking work of all associated with the organization, and to honor special guest Congresswoman Baldwin.

In November 1998, Congresswoman Baldwin, an out lesbian, was elected to Congress—the first woman to serve in the House of Representatives from Wisconsin. Since then, she has served on numerous House committees including the Committee on Energy and Commerce; the Judiciary Committee; and its Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Her main passion throughout her career has been as an advocate for underrepresented communities, and she has worked tirelessly for universal health care and for basic civil rights for LGBT individuals.

“It is an extraordinary privilege to have Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin as our guest of honor,” said Kate Kendell, NCLR Executive Director. “She has been an inspirational leader on behalf of the LGBT community in Congress, and has proven her dedication to justice and equality for all individuals time and time again. Her courageous leadership in Congress for an inclusive ENDA was a battle cry for LGBT organizations nationwide to remain steadfast in their commitment to an inclusive bill. We are so thrilled to honor her work.”

In October 2007, ENDA was stripped of protections against discrimination on the basis of gender identity, favoring only sexual orientation. During this time, Congresswoman Baldwin strongly advocated for a fully-inclusive ENDA which would include both sexual orientation and gender identity in its language. In pushing for a fully inclusive bill, she joined more than 300 LGBT groups across the nation, including NCLR, and became a celebrated leader in the LGBT community.

For more information on the 2008 Anniversary Celebration, visit http://www.nclrights.org/2008ann