Lib Dem trans campaigner Sarah Brown loses council seat

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Transgender campaigner and Liberal Democrat politician Sarah Brown has failed to be re-elected as a councillor in Cambridge.

She was standing to retain the ward of Petersfield but lost out to the Labour candidate Ann Sinnott.

Labour has taken control of Cambridge City Council ending 14 years of Liberal Democrat rule.

Sarah Brown thanked her supporters in a statement to PinkNews.

She said: “It has been my pleasure to serve and represent the people of Cambridge for the last four years, and to serve as one of only a few openly trans politicians.

“The electorate made their choice on Thursday, and I respect that.

“I want to congratulate my successor, Cllr Sinnott, and thank everyone who worked so hard for me, and who turned out to vote.”

Ms Brown is a frequent contributor to PinkNews, having for many years sought to raise awareness about the inequalities faced by the trans community.

She serves as a member of the LGBT+ Liberal Democrats executive.

Ms Brown has continuously lobbied for an end to the spousal veto, which requires a married trans person to obtain written consent from their spouse before they can be granted gender recognition.

Unlike in Scotland’s same-sex marriage law, the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act for England and Wales still includes this discriminatory requirement.