Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / CrackerClips Stock Media

Texas Democrat Rebel Faces Major Blow on Gender-Affirming Care Vote

After breaking away from her own political party to vote against transgender healthcare, the Democratic lawmaker was defeated before she began. 

Losing the Primary

Image Credit: Shutterstock / vesperstock

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / mark reinstein

For the past four terms, Rep Shawn Thierry has almost a flawless track record when it came to voting with the Democratic party on major issues. 

Against Republican Policies

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Carrington Tatum

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Drazen Zigic

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sergey Nivens

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Andrii Yalanskyi

As a result, Rep Shawn Thierry lost by a startling double digits on Tuesday to competitor Lauren Ashely Simmons. 

Shift in Support

Image Credit: Shutterstock / MIA Studio

In response to Thierry’s speech last year, many of her previous supporters ended up voting for Simmons. 

Former Mayor’s Statement

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sandy.M82

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes

Annise Parker, now the president and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, switched her vote to Simmons after the controversy. 

Simmons’ Prospective Victory

Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes

Simmons is believed to be the eventual winner in the November election of the largely Democratic district in Houston. 

Campaign Silence

Image Credit: Shutterstock / RR AUDIOVISUAL

Thierry’s campaign has not yet released a statement about the loss of the primary. 

Thierry’s Justification

Image Credit: Shutterstock / MargJohnsonVA

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / wellphoto

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Mircea Moira

Thierry is not the only Democrat to vote against gender-affirming care for minors across the nation. 

Democrats Remain Dedicated

Image Credit: Shutterstock / danielfela

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 

Image Credit: Shutterstock / wellphoto

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 

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Pressmaster

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Maria Sbytova

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Wisiel

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / StunningArt

Jones continued, “It’s the same type of purge and litmus test we’ve seen in the Republican Party recently”. 

The post Texas Democrat Who Voted for Gender-Affirming Ban, Defeated in Primary first appeared on Pulse of Pride.

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / CrackerClips Stock Media.

+ posts