Clem’s campaign for women’s rights extended into her career through her work as Professor of Gender and Technology at the Open University.

The couple campaigned for rights as same-sex parents, becoming the first couple in the UK to get joint residence orders for their children following the 1989 Children’s Act. Clem and Deirdre were also the first couple in Manchester to have residence registration, before civil partnerships came into law in 2004

Clem and Deirdre had sons Joe and Kieran in 1986 and 1990. Wanting their sons to have a Jewish life, the couple connected with the Jewish Socialist Group and established a network for gay Jews who would meet to celebrate festivals. Clem eventually returned to her roots in Reform Judaism when she joined Menorah Synagogue.

Clem was studying for her A-levels in 1977 when the family decided to return to Holland. She remained in the UK and moved to Manchester to attend university. It was at university that Clem became politically active, and also where she met her future wife, Deirdre.

Clementine (Clem) Herman was born in 1959 in Amsterdam to a Dutch mother and English father. When Clem was two, the family moved to London. It was in London that her dad decided to train as a rabbi and took up a position in Southgate and District Reform Synagogue.