由於這是第一位變性市長
加上市長夫人也是變性人
在劍橋當地算是不小的新聞
算是對自由尊重的態度吧 :)
何時台灣也能拋開很多人的成見
而專心觀看是否他們真正貢獻社會呢?
與大家分享~
英國首位變性市長 市長夫人也是「他」變「她」
英國出現了第一位變性市長，更引人注意的是，這位市長的夫人也是變性人。現年45歲的貝利女士在英國地方大選脫穎而出，當選劍橋市長，23日宣誓就職，她的同性伴侶也以市長夫人的身分一同入住市長官邸。
學術氣息濃厚的英國劍橋市，出了英國第一位變性市長：現年45歲的珍妮‧貝利女士23日上任，她多年伴侶，現年49歲的珍妮佛‧利朵23日也以「市長夫人」的身分現身。乍聽之下令人一頭霧水，其實貝利跟利朵兩個人原來都是男兒身，兩人都是從男變女，但是又成為戀人。
貝利24歲時結婚，當時以為像一般男人一樣成家生子，會忘掉想當女人這個念頭，但是她始終擺脫不掉性別認同問題，因此沒幾年就結束婚姻。她在29歲時開始接受荷爾蒙療法，三年後動手術變性。
就在那時，貝利認識了跟她一樣有性別認同問題，而且已經變性的利朵，這對好姊妹於是決定牽手走一生，並共同撫養貝利與前妻生的子女，這兩名子女現年18和20歲。
貝利和利朵都是通訊工程師，利朵2000年先進入政壇，獲選為劍橋市議會議員，貝利2002年也進入市議會，兩人一起在政壇打拚。貝利說，她從來不為自己變性人的身分感到困擾，也沒有隱瞞過。她說，當她加入自由民主黨時，被問及是否過去有可能造成麻煩的經歷，「我說我是個變性人，而他們說，『這不是問題。』」
就連貝利的前妻也說，她為貝利感到驕傲。而市議會同僚也很支持她們，工黨市議員伊莉莎白‧休斯說，「他們倆個都很好相處共事。」劍橋市前任市長，自由民主黨的西普金則說，貝利與利朵都「很女人。」
英國變性夫妻出頭天，放眼國際政壇，變性人從事公職的例子也不少，夏威夷就有變性人當選教育委員，義大利也有變性議員露西魯雅，她曾說，「這是一個文化革命，我非常了解，我希望可以設下典範。」
但是變性人身分引起爭議的例子也有，美國佛州拉格市地位僅次於市長的行政官員史丹頓，就因為想要男變女而丟了飯碗。九年前德國一位市長也因為變性面臨罷免。
到底是順從內心的渴望，還是就此認命，變性與否都是一種掙扎。
以下是劍橋的當地新聞
Cllr Jenny Bailey has been appointed Mayor of the City of Cambridge at Cambridge City Council’s annual meeting on Thursday 24 May.
Jenny has served continuously on the Council since 2002 when she was elected to represent East Chesterton ward. She was appointed Executive Councillor for Planning and Transportation in 2004, a post she held until May 2006 when she became Deputy Mayor.
As Executive Councillor she successfully led the Council’s new parking enforcement role. She also supported the Mayor at civic ceremonial events as Deputy Mayor and as a Ceremonial Bailiff.
Jenny has a strong interest in environmental issues, promoting cycling, waste management and recycling.
She has spent some time on the City Council’s Planning Committee and her interest in planning has involved representing the views of residents in talks with the county council and neighbouring district councils on proposals for the growth of Cambridge.
She has also been a school governor for Chesterton Community College.
Her career background is in radio engineering and she worked for Pye Telecom which later became part of Philips. She has subsequently worked as a telecommunications engineer for a number of companies many of which have been based in Cambridge.
Jenny has chosen two charities to benefit from the fundraising work she will carry out as part of her mayoral duties over the coming year.
Her first charity is Press Relief, an organisation set up by Cambridgeshire Newspapers Ltd, which raises money for facilities that aim to improve the education, health and social welfare of disadvantaged people across the county.
Jenny’s second charity is the Cambridge Museum of Technology which is based on Cheddar’s Lane, Cambridge.
She will be proposed as Mayor at the annual meeting by her fellow ward councillor, Cllr Marian Holness. The nomination will be seconded by Cllr Lewis Herbert, Leader of the Labour Group.
Jenny said: “I entered local politics because I believe in public service and because I wanted to make a contribution to the wonderful city we live in. I am honoured that my fellow councillors have now chosen me to be Mayor.
“I want my mayoral year to be about celebrating the unsung heroes of our city. There are many of them.
“They are individuals and organisations that quietly work away making a real difference to people’s lives without expecting any reward or publicity in return.
“They deserve recognition and thanks for their work and I see it as a major part of my job as Mayor to make sure they know how grateful we are.
“There are many also many specific causes I want to highlight in the next twelve months. These include raising the profile of disability issues, supporting events for and on behalf of migraine sufferers and attending meetings of minority religious groups.”
She added: “Over the coming year I’ll be raising funds for two local charities which do a great deal of excellent work.
“Press Relief works to help people in some of the more disadvantaged parts of the county by providing grants for new projects and facilities. I hope to raise enough money over the next year to give their work a well-deserved boost.
“And as a radio engineer I have always thought the Museum of Technology to be one of the treasures of the city. It is run by volunteers who are dedicated to showing how science and technology has helped to shape the unique heritage of our city.
“It offers a wonderful insight into how our city has developed making it a fascinating place for visitors, school children and residents to learn more about Cambridge.”
Cllr Ian Nimmo-Smith, Leader of Cambridge City Council, said: “I am looking forward to supporting Jenny as she takes the leading role in Cambridge’s civic life for the coming year.
“Jenny has fulfilled the role of Deputy Mayor in the past year with great distinction and we already know that she will make a really great Mayor.”
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