“Love is love. And Americans should have a right to marry the person they love.”

Those were the words of President Biden this week. The right he mentions is a mandate of the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill passed by the U.S. Senate Tuesday. The legislative effort was tirelessly led by Wisconsin Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin and Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine. In all, 12 Republicans joined Democrats in the Senate for a 61-to-36 passage. The bill now heads to the House where it’s expected to pass and move on for the President’s signature as soon as next week. On this edition of the Friday 8 O'Clock Buzz, Senator Tammy Baldwin joins host Andy Moore to discuss negotiating with Republicans to secure the bipartisan vote, her reaction to the bill's success and the bill's implications for LGBTQ+ Americans in today's political climate.

Tammy Baldwin has served as the junior United States Senator from Wisconsin since 2013. She was the first openly LGBTQ+ woman to be elected to U.S. Congress and is a staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in Wisconsin and the United States as a whole.

Image courtesy of Ted Eytan via Flickr