English politician Maureen Colquhoun was BOTD in 1928. Born in Eastbourne, Sussex, she was raised by a single mother, and studied at the London School of Economics. In 1948, she married the journalist Keith Colquhoun, having three children together. A Labour Party member since her teens, she became a local councillor in 1970, but was blocked by her male colleagues from sitting on committees. In 1973, she left her husband for Barbara Todd, the editor of Sappho magazine. Elected to Parliament in 1974, she became the first openly lesbian politician to sit in the House of Commons. While in office, she unsuccessfully tried to introduce gender equity laws for public bodies and decriminalise prostitution, and also supported the withdrawal of armed forces in Northern Ireland. In 1976, she requested that Speaker of the House George Thomas refer to her as “Ms.” instead of “Mrs”; he responded by letter “In the interests of the House, I think I must continue to use some form of prefix, but I will endeavour to slur it in such a way as to reduce, if not entirely eliminate, the audible distinction between ‘Mrs’ and ‘Miss’.” Crucified by the right-wing press for her sexuality and liberal views, she was de-selected by the Labour Party in 1978, citing her “obsession with trivialities such as women’s rights”. She lost her seat in the 1979 general election, which swept Conservative leader Margaret Thatcher. Following her defeat, Colquhoun returned to local politics, and remained with Todd until the latter’s death in 2020. Colquhoun died in 2021, aged 92.