Tammy Baldwin Sworn In, is First Out Gay U.S. Senator: VIDEO

The U.S. has its first openly gay Senator, Tammy Baldwin from Wisconsin.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Court Upholds Constitutionality of Wisconsin's Domestic Partner Registry

Just in from Wisconsin, via the AP:

Wisconsin's domestic partnership registry is constitutional, a state appeals court ruled in a decision released Friday that marks a major victory for the state's largest gay rights group.

The 4th District Court of Appeals' opinion concluded that voters didn't intend to prohibit the creation of the registry when they amended the Wisconsin Constitution to ban gay marriage, adding that domestic partnerships carry substantially fewer rights and obligations than married couples enjoy.

Dan Savage: Colleges Have 'Responsibility' To Combat Anti-Gay Attitudes

Students and faculty at the University of Madison will be in for a treat next Monday when Dan Savage speaks as part of the Wisconsin school's distinguished lecture series.

In preparation for the event, Savage sat down with Nico Savidge to discuss the current political climate in Wisconsin, how AIDS changed LGBT politics and what it's like to be the man known for two seemingly divergent movements: It Gets Better and the infamous "frothy mix" Santorum definition. To Savage, they're not contradictory at all, because we humans have the amazing capacity to be both serious and silly.

An excerpt:

Q: Probably your two best-known projects are It Gets Better and the Santorum definition. Is it strange to you that your most famous endeavors are such a mix of extremely serious and intentionally juvenile?

A: All human beings are serious and juvenile; none of us is a dour adult all the time. There are times when you’re engaged in very serious topics, pursuits, interests, debates, and there are times when you’re cutting it up with your friends. And you can do both and be the same person. You can do both in one column and be the same columnist.

Savage also told Savidge that even though LGBT activists don't win all of our legislative or electoral fights, the simple act of debating is a move in the right direction. "Just fighting the fight wins for us in the long run, even if we lose at the moment," he said.

As for University of Wisconsin and other colleges, Savage says they have a responsibility to teach students about human sexuality.

"And colleges have this responsibility to provide... this crash course in human sexuality and good human sexual conduct," he said. Because in a college environment, having a bunch of kids rattle around without that knowledge is really dangerous... Behaviors — and bullying is a big thing for me — behaviors that, in high school, will make you king of the campus get you expelled in college. ... It’s not just the kids that are being bullied who are going to be destroyed, potentially, by it. It’s the bullies who will be destroyed by it."

Paul Ryan's Hometown of Janesville, Wisconsin Approves Domestic Partnership Benefits

(image fair wisconsin)

The Janesville, Wisconsin City Council last night voted 6-1 to approve a measure extending domestic partnership benefits to city and library employees and their partners, the Wisconsin Gazette reports:

Katie Belanger of Fair Wisconsin issued a statement shortly after the vote. She said, “This decision marks an important victory for fairness. Janesville’s vision for creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace makes them a leader in our efforts to build a more fair and just state for all Wisconsinites.”

Belanger thanked the city council, specifically Councilmembers Sam Liebert and Russ Steeber, who co-sponsored the measure.

“We are very proud to have worked with the Janesville City Councilmembers over the last year to support their efforts to make Janesville a fairer place to live and work,” she said.

“Providing domestic partner benefits and creating a more inclusive workplace is a critical step toward building a stronger, more diverse workforce that will lead Janesville and Wisconsin in the years ahead.”

Janesville is the hometown of U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan.

Tammy Baldwin's Victory Speech After Becoming First Openly Gay U.S. Senator: VIDEO

As we reported last night, Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) defeated Tommy Thompson to become  the U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, and the first openly gay U.S. Senator in history.

Said Baldwin (at 3:25): "Now, I am well aware that I will have the honor to be Wisconsin's first woman U.S. Senator, and I am well aware that I will be the first openly gay member...but I did not run to make history. I ran to make a difference!"

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

AP Reports On Gay Candidates And Changing Political Culture: VIDEO

The Associated Press posted this video report today about the historic number of LGBT candidates running for public office across America, particularly Wisconsin U.S. Senate candidate Tammy Baldwin. Her sexuality has not been an issue, she says, because Wisconsin voters are more concerned about the economy. Besides, as the report notes, more conservatives realize that anti-gay attacks often backfire. Not all conservatives, but more than yesteryear.

Watch the report AFTER THE JUMP.