// A Judge That Had Qualms With The Law //

This story was a cool one to work on because it cuts to the core of why we started New Sincerity in the first place —we want our society to be one of equal opportunity. One that values the talent and grit of an individual instead of how they choose to present themselves.

So we like this one because it’s a story of forward movement. Especially now, when a lot of us are feeling pretty blue seeing the disenfranchised continue to struggle. This is so very real. But we aren’t stuck.

Phyllis opted for optimism as a healing tool. She evaporates vitriol with humor. That lightness may be part of what got her so far. She also just fought like hell for her validity, and we love that. Now, she’s our honorary statue of liberty.

Story is still after the jump. And brand new ones come out everyday right here → Facebook and here → Instagram.

Phyllis Frye is a highly respected judge, and also the first transgendered judge in Texas.

She’s been the first person to do a lot of things — like spearhead the repeal of Houston’s anti-crossdressing law in ’80, and insist on using the women’s bathroom at her university (now a hauntingly familiar conversation).

After publicly assuming her chosen gender in 1976 at the age of 28, she dealt with the ensuing discrimination with a resolute spirit and a dash of dry humor. To her outraged family she wrote:

“I love you all. Don’t trade my balls for my heart.”

From that moment on, she became a devoted trans-rights activist — putting the T in LGBTQ — insisting they were all companions in the struggle for acceptance. Her chutzpah really became the unifying mortar for the growth of the movement.

When asked about Caitlyn Jenner’s big reveal, she said, “I keep wondering what took her so long … she could have done a lot of good.”

Frye keeps up with that good-doing, vying for trans-rights in her private law practice.

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