Fact Sheet for Reporters: The LGBTQ Records of Wisconsin U.S. Senate Candidates Tammy Baldwin and Eric Hovde

 

GLAAD: Media covering this Senate election must include accurate information and context to explain the candidates’ records and proposals on the critical issues impacting LGBTQ people in Wisconsin and nationwide.

(July 24, 2024) GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, and Fair Wisconsin, the state’s LGBTQ+ civil rights and political advocacy organization, are releasing a fact sheet for reporters covering the U.S. Senate race in Wisconsin, between incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin and challenger Eric Hovde.

Baldwin has served in elected office on the county, state, and federal level, becoming the first female U.S. representative from Wisconsin and first out lesbian elected to the U.S. Senate. This is Hovde’s second attempt at his first elected office. He has business interests and was born in Wisconsin, and his primary residence is in Orange County, California.

“The differences between Senator Tammy Baldwin and candidate Eric Hovde are stark, and the stakes of this election are incredibly high” said Abigail Swetz, executive director of Fair Wisconsin. “It is imperative that we see the full picture of each candidate’s views so that we can see which candidate will lead with a pro-equality agenda.”

Hovde’s LGBTQ record includes:
Delivered remarks at the Log Cabin Republicans Big Tent Event, during the 2024 Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee. Hovde reiterated many of the same anti-transgender talking points put forward by RNC speakers, noting that he believes: “Men shouldn’t be playing girls sports — period.”
Answered questions from “Gays Against Groomers,” an extremist organization that uses false and harmful language to demonize transgender people and their allies. Said Hovde, “I do not agree with men competing in female sports. … To think that we’re gonna allow males to go into female bathrooms, I think it’s fundamentally wrong.” At another event, Hovde said, “We don’t allow our children to drive an automobile until they’re 16. … We don’t allow our young people to vote until 18. We don’t allow our young people to drink alcohol until 21. And yet we’re allowing children 11, 12, 13 … to be transgender. Do you realize the highest rate of suicide in our country today are young people that went through a transgender?” However, The Trevor Project’s 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People shows that LGBTQ youth who are threatened or subjected to conversion therapy are more likely to commit suicide.
Used staffers from his real estate company, without disclosure, in a campaign ad. In the video, staffers complained that “progressive lefties are really messing up our country with their crazy ideas,” like “letting boys play in girls’ sports.”
Restoration PAC is a financial supporter of Hovde’s campaign and extremist anti-LGBTQ groups. Restoration PAC “is funded by megadonor Richard Uihlein,” owner of ULINE packaging, and his wife.
Attacked incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin on her efforts to secure federal funding aimed at providing counseling services for homeless youth. “She actually earmarked, in the last budget, $400,000 for a transgender-affirming clinic that doesn’t even tell parents that they’re doing that, with their own kids,” said Hovde. “Now think of that, I mean, this is how far out there she is.” Baldwin’s office previously noted this is not the case, and that the earmarked $400,000 “can only be used for mental health services and counseling for kids experiencing homelessness.”
Spoke alongside Scarlett Johnson, founder of Moms for Liberty’s Ozaukee chapter, at a 2023 “Pints & Politics” event. Johnson has used her social media platforms and speaking appearances to call for book bans and paint the LGBTQ community in a negative light.
Endorsed and provided funding for Leah Vukmir, who challenged Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s seat in the U.S. Senate in 2018. Vukmir had “a history of trying to dismantle gay rights including through sponsoring a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage and civil unions.”
Labeled the Madison Metropolitan School District a “train wreck” while disparaging gender-neutral bathrooms. “We got to such an absurd level at the end of Obama’s presidency that the big issue was transsexual bathrooms, what?” he said. “You are talking less than .4% of the public, and you’re talking about forcing every municipality and school district to create a unisex bathroom.”
Described marriage as “between a man and a woman.” In a 2012 interview, Hovde said, “if you look at the history of marriage, it comes from the church, and I don’t think it’s the government’s position to come in and impose upon religion and tell them how they should believe or what they have to accept… I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman.”

Tammy Baldwin’s LGBTQ record includes:
Endorsed by the Fair Wisconsin Political Action Committee, Human Rights Campaign, and the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund.
Joined Sen. Tim Kaine (D – Virginia) in introducing a resolution acknowledging “the mistreatment and wrongful terminations of LGBTQ+ civil servants, foreign service officers, and service members” since 1949.
Marked National Coming Out Day by sharing her pride in serving “as the first openly gay Senator in our nation’s history.”
Co-sponsored the Pride in Mental Health Act to bolster mental health and crisis intervention resources for LGBTQ youth.
Co-sponsored the Equality Act and the Respect for Marriage Act, which was signed into law in 2022.
Voiced opposition to anti-LGBTQ bills banning transgender girls from sports.
Condemned the Supreme Court’s decision to side with a graphic artist who refused services to same-sex couples.
Praised the FDA’s update on blood donation policies for gay and bi men and pushed for broader reform.
Joined 117 members of Congress calling on President Biden to fund global LGBTQ rights.
Appeared on ABC News’ Pride Speaker Series.
Became the first openly LGBTQ person and first woman from Wisconsin elected to the U.S. Senate.

Best Practices for Campaign Reporters:

• Include LGBTQ voices in coverage.
• Seek transgender sources in transgender-related stories.
• Prioritize factual information over campaign rhetoric.
• Document and review a candidate’s LGBTQ record.
• Avoid framing issues as “culture wars.”
• Clearly state facts, especially around transgender healthcare.
• Do not legitimize “groomer” rhetoric.
• Contextualize current anti-LGBTQ legislative efforts.
• Note voter rejection of anti-LGBTQ extremism.
• Report links between anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, violence, and extremism.
• Highlight the mental health toll on LGBTQ youth.

Additional Resources:

• GALLUP: 6% of U.S. adults are LGBTQ, 20% of Gen Z.
• GALLUP: 69% support marriage equality.
• GLAAD: 84% support equal rights for LGBTQ people.
• GLAAD: 94% of LGBTQ registered voters plan to vote in November.
• GLAAD Media Reference Guide for accurate reporting.

Contact: press@glaad.org, info@fairwisconsin.com

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About GLAAD: GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change.

About Fair Wisconsin: Founded in 1994, Fair Wisconsin is the state’s only LGBTQ+ civil rights and political advocacy organization. It advances and protects equality through organizing, education, advocacy, and electoral efforts.