Texas Representative’s Controversial Remarks on Women and Gender

James Talarico, a Democratic representative in Texas, is currently challenging Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for a spot in the U.S. Senate. He’s sparked conversation by referring to women as “neighbors with a womb.”

The Democratic Party has expressed regret over this phrasing, especially after the Roe vs. Wade ruling was overturned, transferring abortion rights back to the states.

Talarico has stated, “All our neighbors with wombs have become property of the state.” In another video, he discusses how “neighbors with uteruses” ought to have authority over their own bodies, a point that reflects a more progressive stance regarding abortion rights.

However, there seems to be some ambiguity around how Democrats view women who have undergone hysterectomies. Additionally, it raises questions about the alignment of such remarks with the beliefs of progressive allies who assert that men without wombs can also identify as women. An example of this is Representative Sarah McBride (D-Delaware), who identifies as a woman despite being a biological male.

This isn’t Talarico’s only point of contention. He has described the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools as “violent” toward Christianity and Judaism. He remarked that the Texas bill advocating for this display would be detrimental to both religions.

In discussions regarding this bill, Talarico said:
“To me, this bill is not only unconstitutional and un-American. I think it’s also very un-Christian.”

He further elaborated that enforcing one version of religious belief in schools disregards the diverse interpretations within both Judaism and Christianity. Talarico has also mentioned that there is no historical precedent for public education being mandated in American history.

Interestingly, he referred to God as non-binary, a remark that lacks context, particularly because God is often referenced in masculine terms in religious texts. His views have also included the notion that there are more than two biological sexes.

“Modern science clearly recognizes that there are more than two biological sexes. There are actually six. Honestly, Congressman Hefner, that surprised me too,” he stated. “The point is, biologically and scientifically, sex is a spectrum and can often be very vague.”