Texas Democrat James Talarico is attempting to recast himself as an opponent of gender reassignment surgeries for minors even as his record shows consistent resistance to legislation aimed at protecting children from radical gender ideology.
During a recent podcast appearance, Talarico, now running for the U.S. Senate from Texas against Attorney General Ken Paxton, declared, I oppose gender reassignment surgeries for minors. Yet, according to Breitbart News, video from the Texas House floor in 2023 shows Talarico speaking forcefully against SB 14, a bill he ultimately voted to oppose, which was described as relating to prohibitions on the provision to certain children of procedures and treatments for gender transitioning, gender reassignment, or gender dysphoria and on the use of public money or public assistance to provide those procedures and treatments.
On the House floor, Talarico advanced the lefts evolving gender orthodoxy, asserting that gender is a spectrum, a claim consistent with his earlier 2021 statement in a Texas House public education committee meeting that modern science recognizes six biological sexes. In that same SB 14 debate, he argued that restricting medical interventions for minors with gender dysphoria would endanger children, insisting that before this bill was filed, there was plenty of evidence that not treating extreme gender dysphoria can not only lead to suicide, but can lead to psychological and physical harm to a child.
Talarico went further, invoking a study to justify hormonal interventions on minors, saying since this bill is filed, the New England Journal of Medicine released a study of 350 young people with gender dysphoria who were receiving hormonal therapy, and it showed that that therapy reduced anxiety and depression Im asking us to follow that evidence, follow that science, and Im disturbed that this body is not willing to let doctors make these decisions. He framed the issue as a matter of professional ethics, adding that doctors had a moral obligation under the Hippocratic oath to treat childrens gender dysphoria.
The Presbyterian seminarian and former teacher has previously escalated his rhetoric by describing the refusal to provide sex-change procedures to minors as child abuse, a position sharply at odds with the growing movement among conservatives and many medical professionals to shield children from irreversible medicalization. His record places him squarely in the camp of activists who prioritize ideological conformity over parental rights and biological reality, even as European countries are now retreating from aggressive pediatric gender treatments.
Republican National Committee spokesman Zach Kraft blasted Talaricos long-standing focus on children and gender ideology, telling Breitbart News: James Talarico is a world class creep who has spent years thinking about what is in little kids pants. Implying that suicide is an option for children if they dont want to get a sex change is disgusting and raises concerns about what sort of twisted material is on Talaricos hard drives.
Talarico has also tried to posture as a moral authority over his Republican opponents, asserting on Thursday that Paxton and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) were in no position to tell anybody what a real man is. His broader rhetoric on social issues mirrors progressive talking points, particularly on abortion, where he has repeatedly referred to women as neighbors with a uterus, while also claiming that biological men need abortion care.
His theological commentary has followed the same ideological trajectory. In March, defending past comments that God is beyond gender after podcast host Tim Miller pressed him about Gods genitalia, Talaricowho had previously suggested God is non-binarysaid he had been provocative politically but insisted the claim was not theologically controversial, arguing, Most Christians believe that God is beyond gender.
Talarico has openly celebrated transgender activism among minors, telling A Superbloom Podcast host Candice King, when asked to name something he loves besides friends or family, I love and Im just going to say this because its on my mind the trans children who showed up yesterday at the State Capitol to advocate for their humanity. They shouldnt have to, but it was an inspiration to watch.
His office has also embraced symbolic gestures aligned with the lefts identity politics agenda, with Talarico boasting in 2021 that his office was the first in the state Capitols history to add pronouns to our official business cards. He has likewise backed policies allowing biological males to compete on female sports teams based on self-declared gender identity, a stance that puts him at odds with parents, female athletes, and conservatives who argue that fairness, safety, and biological truthnot ideological fashionshould guide public policy.
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