ENCORE: Transgender judge Phyllis Frye helped put the 'T' in LGBTQ
Phyllis Frye is the first openly transgender person to sit as a judge in the United States. Her tireless advocacy for transgender rights has been in the making for over 25 years.
"There was a law in the city of Houston at the time that made me illegal whenever I would, or any transgender person, would step outdoors cross-dressed and subject to arrest," Frye recalls on being transgender in the '70s.
Back in 1981, when Phyllis Frye graduated from the University of Houston the idea of transgender rights was met mostly with confusion — or outright hostility. Frye worked hard to win the respect of her peers and as a result she walked across the stage at her graduation ceremony hearing warm applause, without a single jeer.
Now Frye is delighted to see how transgender rights have evolved.
"It's so heartening to know I am not necessary anymore.I'm not important to the fight anymore. Isn't that wonderful?" Frye tells Anna Maria Tremonti.
Since our interview in October, the first transgender judge was appointed in Canada. Kael McKenzie, a member of Manitoba's Metis Nation, was sworn in as a provincial court judge in Manitoba in February of this year.
Frye is currently an associate judge for the city of Houston's municipal courts and a senior partner with Frye, Oaks and Benavidez, where she devotes her practice to transgender clients.
You can hear the full conversation with Judge Phyllis Frye and Anna Maria Tremonti at the top of our post.
This segment was produced by The Current's Gord Westmacott.
Listen to Judge Phyllis Frye's moving acceptance speech after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 21st annual Transgender Unity Banquet in Houston, 2013.