Elizabeth Barker, Baroness Barker
British peer (born 1961)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elizabeth Jean Barker, Baroness Barker (born 31 January 1961), is a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords.
The Baroness Barker | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2025 | |
| Member of the House of Lords | |
| Life peerage 31 July 1999 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 31 January 1961 |
| Party | Liberal Democrats |
| Education | University of Southampton |
| Occupation | Politician |
Barker was educated at Dalziel High School, a secondary school in Motherwell, Scotland.[1] She studied at the University of Southampton.[2]
Barker worked for Age Concern between 1983 and 2007. She was created a life peer as Baroness Barker, of Anagach in Highland, on 31 July 1999,[3] and is a Liberal Democrat spokesperson on the Voluntary Sector and Social Enterprise.[4]
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.[5] She since became a Patron of Opening Doors London,[6] a charity which provided support for older LGBT people, and an Ambassador for the Albert Kennedy Trust.
Barker is Co-Chair[7] of both the All-Party Parliamentary Group on HIV, AIDS and Sexual Health[8] and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health in the UK.[9] In the House of Lords she also serves as Deputy Speaker (since April 2024), as Deputy Chairman of Committees, and as Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on the Voluntary Sector.[10] She serves on the board of GiveOut, and LGBTI community foundation.[11]
