Shae Ramsey / “Shannon Thrace” vs. transgender people

“Shannon Thrace” is the pen name of Shae Ramsey, an American author, IT professional, and anti-transgender activist. Ramsey is part of the “trans widow” movement of people upset that their spouses and romantic partners made a gender transition. Ramsey is affiliated with anti-trans hate group Genspect.

Ramsey has used a number of aliases, including:

“Shannon Thrace”
“Sharon Thrace”
“Tracy Shannon”
Sharon Ramsey
Shannon Ramsey
Shae Ramsey
transwidow

Background

Sharon G. “Shae” Ramsey was reportedly born on July 4, 1968 (some sources report July 3). Ramsey attended Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, earning a bachelor’s degree in 2007 and a master’s degree in 2019. Ramsey worked at Key-Art Publishing from 1998 to 2003, managing websites. From 2003 to 2006, Ramsey worked at University Information Technology Services for Indiana University. Ramsey was SharePoint administrator for Hill-Rom from 2008 to 2011. From 2012 to 2013, Ransey was a consultant at PCMS Datafit (now Flooid), then from 2013 to 2014 was a SharePoint administrator at Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions. from 2014 to 2015, Ramsey was a systems administrator at RoundTower Technologies, and from 2015 to 2016 was a SharePoint administrator at Cigna Healthcare. In 2016, Ramsey joiined Eli Lilly and Company as an IT specialist.

Anti-transgender activism

Thrace was reportedly married for about 14 years to someone who came out as trans around age 40. Their relationship fell apart over the following 18 months. Thrace originally published under the pseudonym “Sharon Thrace.”

In 2016, Ramsey contributed a chapter titled “Destruction of a Marriage: My Husband’s Descent into Transgenderism” to the book Female Erasure, edited by Ruth Barrett.

In 2017, Ramsey spoke at TEDxMaastricht about being married to and ultimately divorcing “Jamie,” who made a gender transition.

In 2022, Ramsey released the book 18 Months: A Memoir of a Marriage Lost to Gender Identity. The book was blurbed by Ben Appel, Lisa Selin Davis, Heather Heying, Helen Joyce, Jonathan Kay, Eva Kurilova, Meghan Murphy, Stella O’Malley, and Nina Paley.

In 2024, Ramsey was named as an advisor to anti-trans hate group Genspect.

References

Kay, Jonathan (October 16, 2022). Once a Man, Never a Woman. Quillette https://quillette.com/blog/2022/10/16/not-a-woman/

Lisa Selin Davis (October 16, 2022). The Other Woman Was Himself. Broadview https://lisaselindavis.substack.com/p/the-other-woman-was-himself

Books

“Thrace, Sharon” (2016). Destruction Of A Marriage: My Husband’s Descent Into Transgenderism. In Barrett, Ruth [editor] Female Erasure: What You Need To Know About Gender Politics’ War On Women, the Female Sex and Human Rights. Tidal Time Publishing, ISBN 978-0997146707

“Thrace, Shannon” (2022). 18 Months: A Memoir of a Marriage Lost to Gender Identity. Firebush Books, ISBN 979-8986693804

Media

Genspect with “Shannon Thrace,” Judith Hunter, and Emma Thomas (February 5, 2025). The Dark Side of Gender Affirmation: Families Share Their Pain – Panel Discussion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBrBFzaKAuY

The Distance with Eva Kurilova, Matt Osborne, and “Shannon Thrace” (December 17, 2024). Shannon Thrace Could Not Make It Work: A Transwidow Tells All. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuolcNpjS3k

Lime Soda Films (August 30, 2024). Behind The Looking Glass – FIRST EVER Documentary about the Wives & Children of Trans-Identified Men. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frffv2sB8zE

The Federalist Radio Hour with Emily Jashinsky and “Shannon Thrace” (May 1, 2024). When Gender Ideology Hits Home: How One Woman’s Marriage Fell Apart. https://www.spreaker.com/episode/when-gender-ideology-hits-home-how-one-woman-s-marriage-fell-apart–58211070

The Umbrella Hour with An Goldbauer, Zander Keig, and “Shannon Thrace” (February 8, 2024). [Interview with “Shannon Thrace”]. https://ukhealthradio.com/blog/episode/shannon-thrace-is-a-writer-cultural-critic-and-it-professional-and-the-author-of-18-months-a-memoir-of-a-marriage-lost-to-gender-identity/

Genspect with “Shannon Thrace” (January 29, 2024). Transition Was NOT Appropriate for My Ex-Husband – Shannon Thrace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ0YKZztTak

Calmversations with Benjamin Boyce and “Shannon Thrace” (December 30, 2023). Widowed by Transition | with Shannon Thrace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcectihIg5c

the radical center with Leslie Elliott Boyce, Jennifer Friend, Deborah Knox, and “Shannon Thrace” (December 11, 2023). A Marriage Lost to Gender Identity: Solid Ground #47 with Guest Shannon Thrace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbkEeiSDqQg

Feminists in Struggle with Ann Menasche and “Shannon Thrace” (December 4, 2023). Feminist Book Talk: A Marriage Lost to Gender Identity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtu3758Iu4k

Heterodorx with Nina Paley, Corinna Cohn, and “Shannon Thrace” (November 14, 2023). Episode 117: Ladies’ Autogynephilia Chat with Shannon Thrace. https://heterodorx.com/podcast/117-shannon-thrace/

the radical center with Leslie Elliott Boyce, “Phil Illy,” and “Shannon Thrace” (November 12, 2023). A Civil Dialogue about Autogynephilia, with Phil Illy & Shannon Thrace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM6lWJ6cJsk

Pete A Turner with “Shannon Thrace” (July 12, 2023). Shannon Thrace – 18 Months. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F1jljnJhFo

Cut The Bull with Wilfred Reilly, Charles Love, Shemeka Michelle, and “Shannon Thrace” (June 9, 2023). Cut The Bull – S3-Ep. 22 – Shannon Thrace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opcqpJMtyfI

BROADview with Lisa Selin Davis and “Shannon Thrace” (March 21, 2023). Live Chat with Shannon Thrace. https://www.broadview.news/p/live-chat-with-shannon-thrace

Transcript: Live Chat with Shannon Thrace. https://www.broadview.news/p/transcript-live-chat-with-shannon

Women’s Declaration International with “Shannon Thrace” (February 14, 2023). Shannon Thrace, A Trans Widow Speaks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYGd0O8d9W4

Trans Widow Ute Heggen (January 8, 2023). Trans Widow Interview~Shannon Thrace on Meghan Murphy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOqCH3PeZTs

The Same Drugs wirh Meghan Murphy and “Shannon Thrace” (January 4, 2023). Shannon Thrace was married to a man who decided he wanted to be a woman. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D46OW0zvO4

Quillette with Jonathan Kay and “Shannon Thrace” (December 6, 2022). How I Became a Transwidow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZw_QGUbvTc

Gender: A Wider Lens with Stella O’Malley , Sasha Ayad, and “Shannon Thrace” (August 19, 2022). EPISODE 83 – Trans Widow – Off the Grid: Shannon Thrace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCgH94MyxOA

OurVoices with Kristen Kalbli and “Shannon Thrace” (February 2022). S5 Ep 2: The Impact of Gender Transition on Sex. https://ourpath.org/ourpath_podcast/s5-ep-2-the-impact-of-gender-transition-on-sex/

TEDxMaastricht with “Shannon Thrace” (November 30, 2017). Getting real – a transgender experience. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3mnUMmUAHQ