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Shawn Thierry vs. transgender people

Shawn Thierry is an American attorney, politician, and anti-transgender activist. Thierry is associated with anti-trans hate group Genspect.

Background

Shawn Nicole Thierry was born on August 6, 1969 and grew up in Houston. After attending Westbury Senior High School, Thierry earned a bachelor’s degree from Howard University in 1991, then earned a law degree from  Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1996.

Thierry converted from Catholicism to Southern Baptist.

Anti-transgender activism

Starting in 2017, Thierry served as a Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives for District 146.

In 2023, Thierry supported a ban on trans healthcare and other anti-LGBTQ measures. In 2024, Thierry lost in the Democratic primary runoff to Lauren Ashley Simmons. After losing, Thierry joined anti-trans hate group Genspect USA as director of political strategy and switched from Democrat to Republican. In 2025, anti-trans Governor Greg Abbott appointed Thierry to the Texas Juvenile Justice Board.

References

Office of the Texas Governor (January 13, 2025). Governor Abbott Appoints Thierry To Texas Juvenile Justice Board. https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-appoints-thierry-to-texas-juvenile-justice-board

Goldenstein, Taylor (August 30, 2024). Outgoing Houston state Rep. Shawn Thierry says she’s joining the GOP. Houston Chronicle https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/shawn-thierry-houston-gop-19733255.php

Wagner, Bayliss (August 30, 2024. State Rep. Shawn Thierry switches to GOP, says Dems have veered into ‘progressive abyss.’ Austin American-Statesman https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2024/08/30/shawn-thierry-texas-state-rep-switches-gop-republican-epudiates-democrats-lgbtq-trans-votes/75013189007/

Downen, Robert (August 22, 2024). Rep. Shawn Thierry joins anti-trans policy group after losing Democratic primary. Houston Chronicle https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/21/shawn-thierry-lgbtq-gender-transitioning-care-genspect/

Downen, Robert (August 21, 2024). Rep. Shawn Thierry joins anti-trans policy group after losing Democratic primary. The Texas Tribune https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/21/shawn-thierry-lgbtq-gender-transitioning-care-genspect/

Genspect (August 17, 2024). Texas State Rep. Shawn Thierry (@ShawnieT146) is the new Director of Political Strategy for Genspect USA! https://x.com/genspect/status/1824974852454851017

Reed, Erin (May 29, 2024). Anti-trans Texas Democrat loses primary to queer woman. Washington Blade https://www.washingtonblade.com/2024/05/29/anti-trans-texas-democrat-loses-primary-to-queer-woman/

Goldenstein, Taylor (May 28, 2024. Lauren Ashley Simmons defeats Houston state Rep. Shawn Thierry. Houston Chronicle https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/election/2024/article/shawn-thierry-lauren-simmons-primary-runoff-19468277.php

Zuvanich, Adam (March 6, 2024). State Rep. Shawn Thierry, a Houston Democrat who voted with Republicans on anti-LGBTQ+ bills, headed to likely primary runoff. Houston Public Media https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/election-2024/2024/03/06/479964/state-rep-shawn-thierry-a-houston-democrat-who-voted-with-republicans-on-anti-lgbtq-bills-headed-to-likely-primary-runoff/

Goldenstein, Taylor (June 10, 2023). Houston Democrat’s support of transgender care ban, anti-LGBTQ measures has roiled the party. Houston Chronicle https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/shawn-thierry-houston-gop-19733255.php

McGaughy, Lauren (May 12, 2023). Texas is one step from banning gender affirming medical care for transgender youth. The Dallas Morning News https://www.dallasnews.com/news/public-health/2023/05/12/ban-on-gender-affirming-medical-treatments-for-youth-approved-in-texas-house/

Nguyen, Alex; Melhado, William (May 12, 2023). Pivotal House vote moves Texas closer to banning puberty blockers, hormone treatments for trans kids. The Texas Tribune https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/12/texas-trans-kids-health-care-ban/

Media

Texas Scorecard (July 13, 2025). Real Texans: Shawn Thierry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzpXvrPGWT8

Genspect with Nancy McDermott, Shawn Thierry, Ari DeWolf, and Adam B. Coleman (November 14, 2024). Has the Dust Settled? Gender After the 2024 Election. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP-tQI9TstI

Genspect (September 18, 2024). How Texas Rep. Shawn Thierry BRAVED Death Threats to Protect Children. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27gkK1zdkIo

Queer News Tonight (May 19, 2023). Democratic Texas Rep Shawn Thierry Censured After She Voted Against LGBTQ+ Rights. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg_GSHIWG8Q

Outkick / Gaines for Girls with Riley Gaines and Shawn Thierry (September 28, 2024). Shawn Thierry REVEALS Why She LEFT The Democrat CULT | Gaines for Girls with Riley Gaines. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-2P9jUcnDA

Gender: A Wider Lens with Stella O’Malley, Sasha Ayad, and Shawn Thierry (January 17, 2025). “Mercilessly Attacked” for NOT Wanting to Transition Children, with Rep. Shawn Thierry | Episode 201. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=637SV02M9-U

Genspect with Ari DeWolf, Shawn Thierry, Wilfred Reilly, and Adam B. Coleman (October 18, 2024). Trans Ideology and Black America. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6hsM9IxA-M

Fox News / The Ingraham Angle with Laura Ingraham and Shawn Thierry (September 4, 2024). The Democratic Party has been ‘hijacked’ by radicals: Texas state Rep. Shawn Thierry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9y6iuPD8Tw

Moms for Liberty (September 3, 2024). TX State Rep Shawn Thierry WALKS AWAY !! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb674ggPUA8

Lone Star Left (May 12, 2023). Shawn Thierry Sides With Republicans In Banning Gender Affirming Care For Minors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q28QMWm_saA

Fox 26 Houston with Greg Groogan and Shawn Thierry (Sep 8, 2024). Thierry’s gender bill vote reaction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzYgCi4-Yrk

Resources

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Texas House of Representatives (house.texas.gov)

  • Rep. Thierry, Shawn – District 146
  • house.texas.gov/members/146 [archive]

Texas State Directory (txdirectory.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

Threads (threads.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

State Representative Shawn Thierry (runningwiththierry.com) [archive]

Ballotpedia (ballotpedia.org)