Phyllis Frye, formerly Philip Randolph Frye, recently became Texas\u2019 first transgender judge. Frye was appointed by Houston Mayor Annise Parker, and unanimously approved by city council, to Associate Municipal Judge on November 17, marking an historical event for the transgender legal community.<\/p>\n
Frye has been an active legal advocate and activist for the transgender community, championing transgender, gay and civil rights. For a long time, it was a crime in most cities across the country for anyone to cross-dress in public spaces. There have long been active city ordinances in place, which Frye helped repeal in 1980. Over 30 years ago, Frye risked to be arrested every time she entered City Hall.<\/p>\n
As Associate Municipal Judge, Frye will be an Assistant Judge to City of Houston\u2019s Municipal Courthouse, doing night court dockets and probable cause dockets on the weekends, and will also sit on low-level misdemeanor trials as a substitute judge.<\/p>\n