James Talarico claimed Jesus would tell lawmakers to advocate for 'trans children'

US Senate candidate for the Democrats in Texas, James Talarico, despite trying to distance himself from trans issues during the campaign, has been dogged by old clips of him stumping for gender ideology.

In one of the latest to resurface, Talarico said that if Jesus Christ were to visit the Texas State Legislature, He would have said, "Blessed are the trans children who are bullied." The clip was posted by the Lone Star Liberty PAC, and shared by White House advisor Stephen Miller on Sunday. The words echo the Beatitudes during Christ's Sermon on the Mount, where He proclaimed blessings on the peacemakers, the poor in spirit, the pure in heart, and others. 

The comments from Talarico were to an audience at the Texas Impact Interfaith Service of Public Witness in 2023. Miller responded to the comments, "Freako is deeply, disturbingly obsessed with transing children."

Talarico has reversed himself on a number of trans issues during his campaign in order to appeal to voters in what is usually a solidly Republican state. As a state representative, Talarico opposed GOP-sponsored bills that barred trans athletes from playing on sports teams different than their biological sex. However, earlier this summer, the Democrat reversed himself and said, “As a former public school teacher, I care a lot about our student athletes, I care a lot about our students. And so I will oppose trans athletes playing in girls’ sports if it risks safety or fairness."

In 2021, he sang to a different tune and said, "Some things are more important than perfectly fair competition in sports," while he addressed a bill on the issue in the legislature.

In 2023, Talarico voted against a bill that banned doctors and healthcare providers from giving minors puberty blockers, cross-sex hormone therapy, and sex change surgeries. He has since changed his tune on that topic as well. In an ad recently released by his campaign, Talarico claimed: "No, I don't support sex change surgeries for kids."