LGBT legal advocate discusses marriage equality

Melissa Waller

The Signal

Phyllis Frye, partner at Frye and Associates Law Firm, spoke with students and faculty Oct. 13 in the Forest Room on marriage equality and California’s Proposition 8. Photo by Melissa Waller.

Phyllis Frye, the self-proclaimed ‘grandmother’ of the national transgender legal and political movement, spoke at UHCL about marriage equality and the ongoing legal battle of California’s Proposition 8, Oct. 13.

Proposition 8 called for an amendment to California Constitution’s Article 1 Declaration of Rights, Sec. 7.5 by declaring that only marriage between a man and a woman is
valid or recognized in California.

California’s Proposition 8 passed in November 2008. Since then, people have protested its constitutionality.

Frye spoke at UHCL about Perry v. Schwarzenegger, a court case filed in May 2009 that challenges California’s Proposition 8 on behalf of two same-sex couples who had been denied a marriage license earlier that month.

The plaintiff, Kristin Perry, and her partner Sandra Steir were denied a marriage license in Alameda County in May 2009. Arnold Schwarzenegger is the governor of California.

After more than a year of court hearings and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations speaking on behalf of the plaintiffs, Proposition 8 was struck down Aug. 4 based on the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Defendants filed an immediate appeal of the decision and an emergency motion for a stay pending appeal.

The appeal is scheduled to be heard by the court during the week of Dec. 6.

Frye is a partner at Frye and Associates, PLLC Law Firm in Houston, specializing in transgender and intersex legal issues.

Frye, who was born Phillip instead of Phyllis, began the transition from male to female Sept. 13, 1976. Since transitioning, Frye has advocated for LGBT people across the country.

In an effort to increase the rights and accelerate the freedom of transgenders, Frye founded the Transgender Law Conference in 1992.

Frye said she was amazed at how far the transgender community has come since the law conference was formed.

“It’s amazing because as hard as things have been and as tough as things have been and as many hurts and pains and heartaches we as a community have gone through, it’s only been 18 years,” Frye said.

This was the first time Frye had spoken at UHCL. Julie Smith, coordinator for women’s and LGBT services, arranged the presentation.

“[Frye’s] extensive experience in LGBT-related law and her history of working marriage equality cases makes her an excellent resource of information for the UHCL community,” Smith said. “I believe this issue is important to talk about because the legalized discrimination against LGBT couples needs to end.”

Currently, same-sex marriage is legally performed in six states and recognized in three others. Texas is not one of these states.

Valerie Siman, president of Unity, the gay straight alliance, hopes that Texas will soon join the list.

“I know we’re in Texas, but I think the political climate is really starting to change on a national level,” Siman said. “I think that as more people start coming out and being open about their identities and as more straight people become allies to the LGBT community, we are building a strong force to be reckoned with.”