"Mercilessly Attacked" for Not Wanting to Transition Children, with Rep. Shawn Thierry

In this episode, former Democratic State Representative Shawn Thierry reflects on her role in advocating for Texas Senate Bill 14 (TX SB14), which raised the minimum age for gender transition procedures to 18. Despite sharing concerns about the medicalization of minors with her fellow Democratic colleagues, Shawn was warned that her seat would be at stake for going on the record with her position and voting in favor of the bill. Her steadfast commitment to integrity led her to take a stand, even though it ultimately cost her re-election. Shawn discusses the two-year research process that shaped her decision, the personal risks she faced, and the pressures she encountered from within her own party. Throughout the conversation, she highlights the importance of principled leadership, unwavering dedication to doing what is right, and standing firm in the face of political and social pressures. For links and resources relevant to this episode, access the full show notes at Buy Our Book – When Kids Say They’re Trans: A Guide for Thoughtful Parents at Join Our Listener Community to Access Exclusive Content at Support the Show at Join the conversation on YouTube at For more information about Sasha’s & Stella’s parent coaching membership groups, visit: Sasha Ayad: Stella O’Malley: To learn more about our sponsors, visit: Therapy First at Genspect at This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

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"Mercilessly Attacked" for Not Wanting to Transition Children, with Rep. Shawn Thierry is an episode from Gender: A Wider Lens Podcast by Sasha Ayad and Stella O'Malley.

This episode is 65:10 long.

This episode was published on Jan 17, 2025.

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