Elizabeth Jean Barker, Baroness Barker (born 31 January 1961) is a

Liberal Democrat Several political parties from around the world have been called the Liberal Democratic Party or Liberal Democrats. These parties usually follow a liberal democratic ideology. Active parties Former parties See also *Liberal democracy *Lib ...

member of the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminste ...

. Barker was educated at Dalziel High School, a secondary school in Motherwell, Scotland. She studied at the

University of Southampton , mottoeng = The Heights Yield to Endeavour , type = Public research university , established = 1862 – Hartley Institution1902 – Hartley University College1913 – Southampton University Coll ...

. Barker worked for

Age Concern Age Concern is the banner title used by a number of charitable organizations ( NGOs) specifically concerned with the needs and interests of all older people (defined as those over the age of 50) based chiefly in the four countries of the United Kin ...

between 1983 and 2007. She was created a life peer as Baroness Barker, ''of Anagach in

Highland Highlands or uplands are areas of high elevation such as a mountainous region, elevated mountainous plateau or high hills. Generally speaking, upland (or uplands) refers to ranges of hills, typically from up to while highland (or highlands) is ...

'', on 31 July 1999 and is a Liberal Democrat spokesperson on the Voluntary Sector and Social Enterprise. Barker revealed in a speech to the House of Lords that she was in a same-sex relationship during the passage of the

Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (c. 30) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which introduced same-sex marriage in England and Wales. Background Civil partnerships were introduced in the United Kingdom in 2004, allowin ...

. She has since become Patron of Opening Doors London, a charity providing support for older

LGBT ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term ...

people, and an Ambassador for the Albert Kennedy Trust.

References

External links

Baroness Barker
profile at the site of Liberal Democrats * 1961 births Living people Life peeresses created by Elizabeth II English LGBT politicians English LGBT rights activists English women in politics Liberal Democrats (UK) life peers People educated at Dalziel High School Alumni of the University of Southampton LGBT life peers Lesbian politicians {{Life-peer-stub