Shannon Minter
Encyclopedia
Shannon Price Minter is an American civil rights
attorney and the legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights
in San Francisco.
A 1993 graduate of Cornell Law School
, Minter has been lead counsel in dozens of groundbreaking legal victories for the LGBT community. A trans man
who transitioned
at the age of 35, Minter grew up in East Texas
. Minter did not change his name when he transitioned from female to male, although he later added the middle name Price in honor of his uncle who died in 2003.
He has a wife whom he married in 2001 and a daughter. Minter says he is pained "by the injustice" that transgender individuals
may be legally married in California while gay and lesbian couples cannot.
Minter also has taught law at Stanford University
, Golden Gate University
and Santa Clara University
.
, in a wrongful death case due to a dog mauling; which resulted in a landmark decision in California that extended tort claims to same-sex domestic partners; previously it was a right limited only to married couples. Marjorie Knoller was sentenced to serve 15 years to life for the death of Diane Whipple. Whipple's partner, Sharon Smith, succeeded in suing for $1,500,000 in civil damages, which she donated to Saint Mary's College of California
to fund the women's lacrosse team.
In 2003, Minter gained national attention again when CourtTV aired the entire case of Kantaras v. Kantaras, where Minter represented Michael Kantaras
, a transgender
man who was trying to keep custody of his children. Though he won that case in 2002, it was reversed on appeal in 2004 by the Florida Supreme Court
, upholding the claim that the marriage was null and void because her ex-husband was still a woman and same-sex marriage
s are illegal in Florida. The couple settled the case with joint custody in 2005.
In 2009 Minter was the lead attorney arguing before the California Supreme Court to overturn California Proposition 8
. He was opposed in the courtroom by Ken Starr
. Ken Starr won the case.
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
attorney and the legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Center for Lesbian Rights
The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national non-profit, public interest law firm that advocates for equitable public policies affecting the LGBT community, provides free legal assistance to LGBT clients and their legal advocates, and conducts community education on LGBT legal issues. It...
in San Francisco.
A 1993 graduate of Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School, located in Ithaca, New York, is a graduate school of Cornell University and one of the five Ivy League law schools. The school confers three law degrees...
, Minter has been lead counsel in dozens of groundbreaking legal victories for the LGBT community. A trans man
Trans man
A trans man, transman, trans guy, or FTM is a transgender or transsexual man: a person who was assigned female at birth, but who identifies as male....
who transitioned
Transitioning (transgender)
Transitioning is the process of changing one's gender presentation to accord with one's internal sense of one's gender - the idea of what it means to be a man or woman...
at the age of 35, Minter grew up in East Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Minter did not change his name when he transitioned from female to male, although he later added the middle name Price in honor of his uncle who died in 2003.
He has a wife whom he married in 2001 and a daughter. Minter says he is pained "by the injustice" that transgender individuals
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
may be legally married in California while gay and lesbian couples cannot.
Minter also has taught law at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, Golden Gate University
Golden Gate University
Golden Gate University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in the South of Market district, immediately south of the Financial District of downtown San Francisco, California...
and Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
.
Legal career
Minter first gained national attention in the United States in 2001 representing the lesbian partner of Diane WhippleDiane Whipple
Diane Alexis Whipple was a lacrosse player and coach, who is best known as the victim of a fatal dog attack in San Francisco in January 2001. The dogs involved were two Presa Canario dogs named Bane and Hera , owned by neighbors living in the same apartment building.-Life:Whipple was born in...
, in a wrongful death case due to a dog mauling; which resulted in a landmark decision in California that extended tort claims to same-sex domestic partners; previously it was a right limited only to married couples. Marjorie Knoller was sentenced to serve 15 years to life for the death of Diane Whipple. Whipple's partner, Sharon Smith, succeeded in suing for $1,500,000 in civil damages, which she donated to Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
to fund the women's lacrosse team.
In 2003, Minter gained national attention again when CourtTV aired the entire case of Kantaras v. Kantaras, where Minter represented Michael Kantaras
Michael Kantaras
Michael John Kantaras is an American transman who was involved in a high-profile child custody case with his ex-wife. The case had implications for the legal status of transsexual marriages and the legal definitions of "man" and "woman."...
, a transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
man who was trying to keep custody of his children. Though he won that case in 2002, it was reversed on appeal in 2004 by the Florida Supreme Court
Florida Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of Florida is the highest court in the U.S. state of Florida. The Supreme Court consists of seven judges: the Chief Justice and six Justices who are appointed by the Governor to 6-year terms and remain in office if retained in a general election near the end of each...
, upholding the claim that the marriage was null and void because her ex-husband was still a woman and same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
s are illegal in Florida. The couple settled the case with joint custody in 2005.
In 2009 Minter was the lead attorney arguing before the California Supreme Court to overturn California Proposition 8
California Proposition 8 (2008)
Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008 state elections...
. He was opposed in the courtroom by Ken Starr
Kenneth Starr
Kenneth Winston "Ken" Starr is an American lawyer and educational administrator who has also been a federal judge. He is best known for his investigation of figures during the Clinton administration....
. Ken Starr won the case.