Digital Transgender Archive

Phyllis Randolph Frye Oral History

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Interview with Judge Phyllis Randolph Frye conducted by Mason Funk on June 1, 2017, at her office in Houston, Texas. After she experienced extensive and violent harassment from her neighbors after coming out, Phyllis decided that with a law degree, she could protect both herself and others. In 1986, a closeted member of the military was slapped with a DWI after leaving a gay bar and needed a lawyer to keep his case out of the papers. With her fees from that case, Phyllis was able to launch her own practice in criminal defense and transgender law. From there, she went on to create the International Conference on Transgender Law and Employment Policy in 1991, and in 2010 she became the country’s first openly transgender judge.

Item Information:

Identifier
4f16c305v
Collection
Audio and Video Clips and Transcripts
Institution
OUTWORDS
Creator(s)
Frye, Phyllis Randolph
Contributor(s)
Bench, Amy
Funk, Mason
Publisher
OUTWORDS
Date Created
Jun. 1, 2017
Genre
Oral Histories
Transcriptions
Subject(s)
Ernest McGowan
International Conference on Transgender Law and Employment Policy
Lifetime Achievement Award
Phyllis Randolph Frye
Pro Tem Johnny Goyen
ROTC
Shannon Minter
Texas A & M
Transgender Foundation of America
University of Houston
Places
Texas
Texas > Harris County > Houston
Topic(s)
Harassment
Judicial power
Lawyers
LGBTQ+ activists
LGBTQ+ people in the military
Transitioning (Gender)
Transsexual people
Resource Type
Moving image
Language
English
Rights
Copyright undetermined
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