Texas Senate Candidate James Talarico Faces Scrutiny Over Shifting Stance on Transgender Rights
Talarico attempts to clarify remarks on gender surgery and athletes at a fundraiser after drawing criticism.
Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico has publicly re-evaluated his stance on transgender rights following controversial comments made during a Fox News interview. The shift occurred during a private fundraiser, where he addressed concerns from transgender activists about his previous statements.
During the Fox News appearance, Talarico stated he would support a national ban on gender-affirming surgery for minors and would oppose transgender athletes participating in women's sports if it compromised safety or fairness. These remarks drew immediate criticism, with activist Joelle Bayaa-Uzuri Espeut confronting Talarico at the fundraiser.
Espeut told the Daily Mail that Talarico explained his Fox News comments were made with limited time and that he intended to provide more context in future interviews. He reiterated his opposition to transgender athletes in girls' sports, suggesting such decisions should be made at the local level. Talarico also reminded the audience of his past opposition to bans on transgender athletes in school sports and affirmed that his voting record demonstrated his support for the LGBTQ+ community.
The fundraiser, held in Montrose and attended by approximately 100 people, was co-hosted by local LGBTQ+ leaders and the Human Rights Campaign. Espeut, who serves on the board of the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus, noted that Talarico had received their endorsement for both the primary and general elections, and the organization was not retracting its support.
Talarico's campaign has been criticized by Republicans, who are using his remarks on sex and gender in advertisements, arguing his views are out of step with Texas voters. Talarico is challenging Republican Ken Paxton for a U.S. Senate seat, a race that offers Democrats an opportunity to gain control of a Senate seat previously held by a Republican.
In earlier statements, Talarico had also walked back past assertions about the number of sexes, stating he believes there are two sexes: male and female. Brad Pritchett, CEO of Equality Texas, had previously denounced Talarico's Fox News comments, stating he expected better from the Democratic candidate. Despite the initial controversy, activists at the fundraiser expressed satisfaction with Talarico's clarifications, noting his engagement and investment in the community.