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James Talarico Blames GOP Extremism for Past Gender Remarks
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Interview Links Controversial Remarks to Republican Extremism
In a recent interview on “The Daily” podcast with Michael Barbaro, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico said that the rise of Republican extremism in Texas compelled him to make provocative statements about gender and theology. He argued that the culture-war focus of the 2021 Texas legislature forced him “to fight back” and that his remarks about God being “non-binary” and the existence of six biological sexes were reactions to “Republican extremists at the Capitol” rather than issues he intended to champion.
Background & Context: 2021 Texas Legislative Culture War
During the 2021 session, Talarico opposed a bill to bar men from women’s sports and, on the House floor, asserted that “Modern science obviously recognizes that there are many more than two biological sexes; in fact, there are six.” He also repeated the “God is non-binary” comment in a public-education committee hearing that year. Talarico framed those statements as part of a broader debate over trans-athlete participation and abortion legislation that he said targeted his constituents.
Official Statements & Responses
Talarico emphasized that his primary legislative focus has always been public education, not cultural issues.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Modern science obviously recognizes that there are many more than two biological sexes; in fact, there are six.” — James Talarico, Texas House floor, 2021
- “Things such as God is nonbinary, questions about how many genders there really are and your justifications using the Bible for abortion," Sarah Gardner, a small business owner, said to Talarico.” — Sarah Gardner, small-business owner