After breaking away from her own political party to vote against transgender healthcare, the Democratic lawmaker was defeated before she began.
Losing the Primary
Texas Democrat Representative Shawn Thierry lost in the primary election for the coveted south Houston seat after making quite the controversial decision.
Thierry’s Previous Track Record
For the past four terms, Rep Shawn Thierry has had a near-flawless track record when it came to voting with the Democratic party on major issues.
Against Republican Policies
These issues included voting against intense immigration methods pushed by the Republican Governor Greg Abbott, as well as a ban of college run diversity programs.
Her Controversial Speech
In 2023, Rep Shawn Thierry received major backlash after defending a ban on gender-affirming care for minors in a 12-minute speech to the Texas House of Representatives.
A Vocal Stance
While there were 3 other Democrats who also voted for the ban on gender-affirming care, they were not nearly as vocal as Theirry.
Electoral Defeat
As a result, Rep Shawn Thierry lost by a startling double digits on Tuesday to competitor Lauren Ashely Simmons.
Shift in Support
In response to Thierry’s speech last year, many of her previous supporters ended up voting for Simmons.
Former Mayor’s Statement
The former Houston Mayor, Annise Parker, said, “Her vote was why she had a race, but when she doubled down and went really down the rabbit hole of misinformation, it energized folks in the LGBTQ community”.
Switching Sides
Annise Parker, now the president and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, switched her vote to Simmons after the controversy.
Simmons’ Prospective Victory
Simmons is believed to be the eventual winner in the November election of the largely Democratic district in Houston.
Campaign Silence
Thierry’s campaign has not yet released a statement about the loss of the primary.
Thierry’s Justification
But last year, in her speech against gender-affirming care, Thierry said, “I am making a decision to place the safety and well-being of all young people over the comfort of political expediency”.
Her Core Belief
Continuing, “It is my core belief and conclusion that we should remain consistent in the premise that children must be given special provisions under the law as they cannot fully appreciate the long-term consequences of their actions”.
A Glance at the Nation
Thierry is not the only Democrat to vote against gender-affirming care for minors across the nation.
Democrats Remain Dedicated
While the Democratic party remains dedicated to LGBTQ+ visibility and human rights, some lawmakers have remained silent against the anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric from the GOP.
Simmons’ Endorsements
Endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign and Equality Texas, Simmons has the support of the LGBTQ+ community in Texas and beyond.
The Human Rights Campaign Takes Action
In order to help secure her seat, the Human Rights Campaign called and texted over 2,000 people in support, and the Equality Texas group hosted events in her honor.
Doubling Down
Political consultant Grant Martin said it was not only Thierry’s vote but how she doubled down on her thoughts on Fox News while receiving donations from multiple Republican groups.
Sending a Clear Message
A Rice University political science professor, Mark Jones, said, “This sends a clear message to Democratic elected officials that if you break with the party on key issues, … you really run the risk of getting primaried and removed from office”.
A Purge and Litmus Test
Jones continued, “It’s the same type of purge and litmus test we’ve seen in the Republican Party recently”.
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