A Texas lawmaker has formally switched her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, citing feelings of “betrayal” from what she describes as a pro-transgender “progressive abyss.”
Representative Shawn Thierry, who is exiting state government after a recent primary defeat to challenger Lauren Ashley Simmons, criticized the Democratic Party for its stance on LGBTQ+ issues in a lengthy statement on Friday.
She expressed strong opposition to Democratic support for transgender rights and healthcare, along with concerns over what she called a “dismantling” of Title IX protections for biological women.
“The Democratic Party has strayed too far into the progressive abyss, endorsing policies like endorsing sex changes for children at vulnerable ages and undermining Title IX protections for women in sports,” Thierry wrote.
She emphasized the importance of protecting children and respecting biological women’s rights, stating that it’s crucial to uphold “universal truths” backed by science and common sense.
Leon Neal
In response, Democratic official Hinojosa criticized Thierry, stating, “She compromised her Democratic values and deserved to be voted out by the constituents of House District 146.”
Thierry has previously supported Republican bills, including those banning transition-related healthcare for transgender minors and prohibiting transgender athletes in women’s sports. Similar laws have emerged in Republican-led states, despite opposition from major medical organizations offering support for some transition care for minors.
She also backed legislation to ban “offensive” books in public schools, which critics argue disproportionately affects LGBTQ+ and racially diverse literature.
Lauren Ashley Simmons, a queer labor organizer, is set to take Thierry’s place in January, representing a district that strongly favors Democrats.
Despite her political defeat, Thierry has recently been appointed as the U.S. director of political strategy for the anti-transgender organization Genspect.