Linda Bellos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Linda Bellos
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Bellos in 2010.
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| Born |
Linda Ann Adebowale
13 December 1950 London, England
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| Alma mater | University of Sussex |
| Occupation |
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| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse(s) |
Jonathan Bellos
(m. 1970; div. 1983) |
| Partner(s) | Caroline Jones (CP 2005–2015) |
| Children | 2 |
Linda Ann Bellos (born 13 December 1950) is a British businesswoman, a strong supporter of women's rights, and an activist for the rights of gay and lesbian people. In 1981, she became the first woman of African heritage to join the Spare Rib group, which worked on a famous feminist magazine. She was elected to the Lambeth Council in London in 1985. She then became the leader of the council from 1986 to 1988.
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Early Life and Education
Linda Bellos was born in London. Her mother, Renee Sackman, was from a Polish Jewish family. Her father, Emmanuel Adebowale, was Nigerian and from the Yoruba group. He joined the merchant navy during the Second World War. Linda's mother was not supported by her family for marrying an African Christian.
Linda grew up in Brixton, a part of London. She went to Silverthorne Girls' Secondary Modern School and Dick Sheppard Comprehensive School. Later, she studied at the University of Sussex from 1978 to 1981.
Career Highlights
Linda Bellos has had an important career in politics and activism. She has worked to make society fairer for everyone.
Fighting for Women's Rights
Linda Bellos is a strong supporter of women's rights. She was the first non-white lesbian woman to join the Spare Rib feminist group in 1981. This group worked on a magazine that discussed women's issues.
She believes that the women's rights movement should include all women. She felt that it was sometimes too focused on white, middle-class women. Linda prefers the term "mixed heritage" instead of "mixed race." She believes that trying to define race often just focuses on skin colour. She describes herself using the term "Black" in a political way, meaning it includes people of African, Caribbean, and Asian heritage.
Making a Difference in Politics
Linda Bellos was a key figure in the Labour Party. She helped lead a campaign to get more African, Caribbean, and Asian people chosen as candidates for parliament and local councils.
In 1985, Linda was elected as a Labour councillor for the Larkhall area in Lambeth London Borough Council. A councillor is someone elected to represent their local community. From 1986 to 1988, she was the leader of the Lambeth Council. This made her the second Black woman to lead a local council in Britain. She stepped down as leader in 1988 after disagreements about the council's budget.
During the 1980s, Linda was a well-known figure in left-wing politics in London. She was sometimes called a member of the "Loony Left" by newspapers like The Sun. This was a nickname given to left-wing politicians who were seen as having extreme views.
Linda also worked as the treasurer for the Africa Reparations Movement (UK). This group seeks to address the historical wrongs of slavery. She was also an adviser to Southwark Council and co-chaired the Southwark LGBT Network. From 2000 to 2003, she helped lead an advisory group for the Metropolitan Police on LGBT issues. She continues to be an active member of her community.
Promoting Equality for All
As a supporter of women's rights and gay rights, Linda Bellos strongly believed that all people should be included. In the early 1980s, she argued that discussions about women's issues must also consider social class, different ethnic backgrounds, disabilities, and different sexual identities. This idea was not very popular at the time.
More recently, Linda teaches employers and their staff about equality laws. These laws include the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998. She also helped start Black History Month in the UK. This event celebrates the history and contributions of Black people.
Linda has worked to make equality a normal part of many public organizations. These include the British Army and the Metropolitan Police Service. She was also an independent adviser to the Crown Prosecution Service and the Association of Chief Police Officers. She is a founder and former Chair of The Institute of Equality and Diversity Practitioners.
Consulting and Media Work
Linda Bellos runs her own company, Linda Bellos Associates. Through this company, she provides advice and training on equality, diversity, and human rights. She works with businesses, public organizations, and non-profit groups in the UK.
She is also a frequent guest on radio and television shows. She shares her thoughts on topics like equality, human rights, and women's rights. She has also written for several books, including IC3: The Penguin Book of New Black Writing in Britain.
Personal Life
Linda Bellos married Jonathan Bellos in 1970. They had two children. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1983.
On 21 December 2005, Linda and her partner, Caroline Jones, entered into a civil partnership. Caroline passed away in 2015. In 2020, Linda entered into another civil partnership with Marian Davis.
Awards and Recognition
On 9 December 2002, Linda Bellos received a Metropolitan Police Volunteer Award. This award recognized her great work in supporting the local community.
In 2006, she was given the OBE award (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) by the Queen. This was for her services to diversity. Linda was not sure about accepting the award at first. She felt that the name of the award was old-fashioned because it was linked to a past empire. However, her family encouraged her to accept it.
