It was one of the final days of the Texas legislature’s regular session in 2023. Along with the other staffers in the Democratic House minority leader’s office, I listened closely to the floor proceedings from the office television. SB 14, a bill to ban gender transition treatments for minors, had been called to the floor and a Houston Democratic lawmaker named Shawn Thierry was about to give a speech in its favor that would end her career. As she walked to the dais, her speech in one hand and tissue in the other, the chamber grew quiet. There was visible unease among both her Republican and Democratic colleagues as she began to speak. In a profession that rewards caution and punishes miscalculation swiftly, it is rare to watch an elected official willingly walk the plank.
