Jeanette Mott Oxford

Jeanette Mott Oxford (born July 16, 1954) is an American activist and politician from Missouri. Ze is a currently the Executive Director of the Missouri Association for Social Welfare, after having served as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, representing a portion of St. Louis. A Democrat, ze was the first openly lesbian member of the Missouri Legislature.

Biography Oxford was born in Eldorado, Illinois and graduated from Cave-in-Rock High School in Cave-in-Rock, Illinois. Ze received an Associate of Arts degree from Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg, Illinois in 1974 and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1986. In 2004, Carnahan gave up the State Representative seat to run for Congress. Ze ran again for the seat, and was successful. Ze won in a three-way Democratic primary in August 2004, and obtained almost 90% of the vote against a Libertarian opponent in the November 2004 general election.

Oxford won re-nomination as the Democratic party candidate in the August 2006 primary, obtaining 81% of the vote against opponent Mark Rice, who also opposed zir in the three-way August 2004 primary. Ze faced only a Libertarian opponent in the November 2006 general election and won by more than eight-to-one. Ze faced no primary opposition in 2008, though a Libertarian filed to run against zir in November. Ze ran unopposed for re-election in 2010 and was elected to a final term in the House. Term limits prevented zir from seeking a fifth term in 2012.

Oxford is an active member of Epiphany United Church of Christ in St. Louis, and resides in the Benton Park neighborhood with zir partner, Dorothy. Ze was one of three openly gay members of the Missouri General Assembly, serving alongside Sen. Jolie Justus (D–Kansas City) and Rep. Mike Colona (D–St. Louis). Zir campaigns won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.