First openly lesbian U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin to deliver lecture at the University of Minnesota Contacts: Beng Chang, U of M Schochet Endowment, (612) 626-2562 Patty Mattern, University News Service, (612) 624-2801 |
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL ( 9/5/2007 ) -- U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, the only openly lesbian member of the U.S. House of Representatives, will deliver the Seventh Spear Lecture on Public Policy at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15 in Cowles Auditorium at the Humphrey Institute, 301 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis. The lecture is part of the University of Minnesota's Steven J. Schochet Endowment Distinguished Lecture Series. This event is free and open to the public. Voters elected Baldwin to Congress in 1998 making her the first woman to serve in the House of Representatives from Wisconsin. She was re-elected in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006. Baldwin currently serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and its subcommittees. She also serves on the Judiciary Committee and its subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. Baldwin is a leading advocate for universal health care, protecting Social Security and Medicare, and increasing support for public education, including financial aid for higher education. Baldwin is a forceful supporter of civil rights and an advocate for those in our society whose voices, too often, she says, are not heard. "I've known Congresswoman Baldwin for over 20 years and have watched her develop from a local leader into an outstanding national leader for the GLBT community and for progressive causes in general," said former Minnesota State Sen. Allan Spear. The fall lecture is named for Spear who was the first and longest-serving openly gay male legislator in the nation. Spear served in the Minnesota State Senate for more than a quarter of a century. He is also associate professor emeritus in the history department at the University of Minnesota. Following the lecture, the Steven J. Schochet Endowment will host a dessert reception for Baldwin and members of the public. University alumnus Steven J. Schochet, class of 1959, set up the Schochet Endowment to support education, awareness and programming on GLBT issues. The Schochet Distinguished Lecture Series brings prominent local, national and international GLBT people to campus to tell in their own words how their careers advance the areas of GLBT culture and public policy. ---------- |
