Shawn Thierry Explained

Shawn Nicole Thierry
State House:Texas
District:146th
Term Start:January 10, 2017
Predecessor:Borris Miles
Birth Date:6 August 1969[1]
Party:Republican
Otherparty:Democratic (until 2024)
Alma Mater:Howard University (BA)
Texas Southern University (JD)[2]
Occupation:Attorney
Residence:Houston, Texas, U.S.

Shawn Nicole Thierry (born August 6, 1969) is an American politician. She is a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives, after an August 30, 2024 switch from the Democratic Party,[3] representing the 146th District. She won the November 2016 general election and was sworn into office on January 10, 2017.[4] She lost her re-election bid for her Texas House seat on May 28, 2024 after being defeated by Lauren Simmons by 65% to 35% in the Democratic primary runoff.[5] Thierry was an unsuccessful candidate for the 57th Civil District Court in 2010.[6]

Positions

In April 2023, Thierry voted in favor of HB 900, to ban books from public schools deemed "sexually explicit". The bill was heavily criticized by LGBT advocates for including books containing reference to LGBT topics in its definition of sexually explicit.[7] [8]

In May of that year, Thierry broke ranks with her party to vote in favor of a bill to ban gender affirming care for trans minors.[9] [10] [11] She has also voted in favor of bans on trans women from women's sports.[12]

On March 5, 2024, Thierry came in second in the primary elections to her challenger, Lauren Ashley Simmons, a queer union organizer who ran in opposition to Thierry's anti-LGBT votes and activism,[13] [14] and was forced into a run-off. On May 28, 2024, Thierry was defeated by Simmons, having received 35.4% of the vote.[15] After losing her re-election bid, Thierry joined the American wing of the gender-critical group Genspect as the director of political strategy.[16] On August 30, 2024, Thierry officially announced that she would be leaving the Democratic Party and joining the Republican Party.[3] Thierry further discussed her decision to leave the Democratic Party at the 2024 national summit for the right-wing group Moms for Liberty.[17]

Personal life

Thierry is a former Catholic and practicing Southern Baptist.[18]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rep. Shawn Thierry - Texas State Directory Online .
  2. Web site: Rep. Shawn Thierry (R). September 2, 2024. September 12, 2024. Texas State Directory.
  3. News: DuPree . Will . 2024-08-30 . Houston lawmaker switches parties after Democratic primary loss . . 2024-08-30.
  4. News: Svitek. Patrick. Attorney Wins Democratic Nod to Replace Rep. Borris Miles. 18 January 2017. The Texas Tribune. August 6, 2016.
  5. https://thetexan.news/elections/2024/texas-election-results-tracker-may-28-2024-runoff-election/article_b929e6e4-184d-11ef-8bff-331e669a4b49.html#house Texas Election Results Tracker: May 28, 2024 Runoff Election
  6. News: Kuffner. Charles. Kuff's World Judicial Q&A revisited: Shawn Thierry. 18 January 2017. . June 21, 2016.
  7. News: Dey . Sneha . Texas House passes bill that aims to keep sexually explicit materials out of school libraries. . April 19, 2023 .
  8. News: Lewis . Ricardo . 2023-04-19 . TX House initially passes bill that keeps sexually explicit books out of school libraries . .
  9. News: Nguyen . Alex . Melhado . William . Pivotal House vote moves Texas closer to banning puberty blockers, hormone treatments for trans kids. May 12, 2023 . .
  10. News: Nguyen . Alex . Melhado . William . Texas moves closer to banning puberty blockers for trans kids . . May 15, 2023.
  11. News: McGaughy . Lauren . Texas is one step from banning gender affirming medical care for transgender youth . . May 12, 2023 . subscription.
  12. News: Goldenstein . Taylor . 2023-06-10 . Houston Democrat's support of transgender care ban, anti-LGBTQ measures has roiled the party. .
  13. News: Reed . Erin . Erin Reed (journalist) . Anti-trans Texas Democrat loses primary to queer woman. . May 29, 2024 . August 22, 2024 .
  14. News: Zuvanich . Adam . 2024-03-06 . State Rep. Shawn Thierry, a Houston Democrat who voted with Republicans on anti-LGBTQ+ bills, headed to likely primary runoff. Houston Public Media .
  15. Web site: Goldenstein . Taylor . Lauren Ashley Simmons defeats Houston state Rep. Shawn Thierry . 2024-05-29 . . en.
  16. Web site: Downen . Robert . Rep. Shawn Thierry joins anti-trans policy group after losing Democratic primary . 2024-08-22. 2024-08-22 . . en.
  17. News: Goldenstein . Taylor . August 30, 2024 . September 1, 2024 . Outgoing Houston state Rep. Shawn Thierry says she's joining the GOP. .
  18. Web site: Wagner . Bayliss . State Rep. Shawn Thierry switches to GOP, says Dems have veered into 'progressive abyss' . 2024-08-30 . Austin American-Statesman . en-US.

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