Home WebMail Thursday, October 31, 2024, 11:30 PM | Calgary | -3.1°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Posted: 2024-08-30T16:29:32Z | Updated: 2024-08-30T16:29:32Z

A Texas state lawmaker who lost in the Democratic primary after supporting anti-transgender bills announced Friday that she is switching to the Republican Party .

State Rep. Shawn Thierry of Houston said in a statement that she is switching parties because the Democratic Party has veered so far left, so deep into the progressive abyss, that it now champions policies that I cannot, in good conscience, support.

Thierry was ousted in a primary runoff in May after she sided with Republican-backed bills targeting the transgender community. Thierry voted in favor of a measure banning gender-affirming care for minors and another requiring trans college athletes to play on teams aligned with their sex assigned at birth.

The Texas ACLU called the banning of transgender athletes in sports unfair, unconstitutional, and just plain cruel, after Republican Gov. Gregg Abbot signed the bill into law in June.

Your Support Has Never Been More Critical

Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.

Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

Thierrys term will expire before the legislature comes back for its next session in January.

State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer told the Texas Tribune in a statement that Thierry has chosen to continue to betray the values and priorities of her constituents.

If Thierry looks at a party taking away the freedom for women to control their bodies, cutting healthcare for millions, and led by a racist, petty convict and says I want in on that mess, I think that says more about Shawn Thierry than about the Democratic Party, Martinez Fischer said. Adios.