Jenny Bailey
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Jenny Bailey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 801st Mayor of Cambridge | |
| In office 2007–2008 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Dryden |
| Succeeded by | Mike Dixon |
| Cambridge City Councillor, East Chesterton Ward | |
| In office May 2002 – May 2008 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Doncaster Prison |
| Party | Liberal Democrats |
| Spouse | Jennifer Liddle |
| Children | 2 |
Jenny Bailey is a British Liberal Democrat politician who was the civic leader of Cambridge City Council in Cambridge, England. Bailey served her mayoral term from 2007 to 2008. Bailey became a member of the city council in 2002, when she was elected to represent the suburb of East Chesterton within Cambridge. She served the council continuously from 2002 to 2007, rising the ranks until she was chosen to become mayor in 2007.[1] Prior to her appointment as full mayor, she acted as a deputy in 2006.
She was the first transgender mayor in the United Kingdom,[2] and the second globally after Georgina Beyer, Mayor of Carterton, New Zealand.[3] Bailey herself was keen to play down the significance of her appointment, saying, "I don't want to let it define me."[4] Bailey had undergone gender transitioning 11 years prior to assuming office in the council.[1]
Bailey was married before her transition, and became a parent to two sons. Bailey and her longtime companion Jennifer Liddle entered into a civil partnership on 22 September 2011.[5] Liddle, a former councillor,[2] is also a trans woman.
Bailey was born in Doncaster Prison, where her father worked as a prison officer. She was brought up at Doncaster prison camp, and has said that her own confusion about her gender arose as early as aged 6 or 7.[4] In school, Bailey joined the radio club led by her physics teacher and decided to follow this interest in her professional working life. Aged 20, she received a sponsorship from local company Pye Telecom to take part in a three-year training course. This involved placements at Lanchester Polytechnic, colleges in Coventry and industrial training in Cambridge.[1] Bailey worked in several jobs as a telecommunications engineer before becoming involved in politics.
In her 20s, she had to further suppress her confusion over her gender as she married a cisgender woman and became a parent to two sons. However, the marriage met with an amicable demise soon after; Bailey maintained a relationship with her former wife and upon hearing that Bailey was to be sworn in as mayor, her former wife said that she was "incredibly proud".[6] She began hormone replacement therapy in 1990, aged 29.[citation needed] There she met her current partner, Jennifer Liddle, who also worked as a software engineer and was also undergoing gender transitioning. Bailey had sex reassignment surgery in 1993.
Bailey follows the Buddhist religion and is a vegetarian in accordance with these beliefs.[1] On 22 September 2011 Bailey and Liddle entered into a civil partnership at Cambridge's Shire Hall.[5]