Maureen Colquhoun (92)

THE economist and Britain’s first openly lesbian lawmaker, remembered for the way she ignored negative press and attacks by other politicians to pave the way for other LGBT MPs to live openly, died on February 2.

Colquhoun, who represented the Labour Party in Northampton North in central England between 1974 and 1979, was a noted campaigner for women’s rights, particularly for access to abortion and the decriminalisation of prostitution.

A graduate of the London School of Economics, Colquhoun was the first woman to request the then Speaker of the House of Commons, George Thomas, to refer to her as ‘‘Ms’’ rather than the commonly used ‘‘Miss’’.

She remained active in local politics into her 80s, acting as a parish councillor in the country’s northwest until 2015.

Colquhoun was always adamant that her sexuality was irrelevant when it came to public service. — Reuters