Texas State Representative James Talarico, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, has drawn attention for comments describing God as non-binary, and as both masculine and feminine, including everything in between (Pinedo, 2026, Mar). Talarico, who identifies as Presbyterian and is a student at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, often uses biblical language in his political messaging.
During a committee hearing on a bill aimed at banning transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports, Talarico stated: “The point is that biologically speaking, scientifically speaking, sex is a spectrum, and oftentimes can be very ambiguous” (Pinedo, 2026, para 12). Chromosomes themselves are made up of proteins and DNA that carry your genetic information from cell to cell” (para 1). These basic concepts have been taught in biology classes for generations. The idea that sex is a spectrum, and oftentimes ambiguous sounds very primitive. Sex is not like autism. It is not on a spectrum. Autism is on a spectrum where theorists and clinicians ‘scientifically’ can see a wide range of symptoms and severity levels.
Many of Talarico’s comments have sparked controversy. Critics point out that, according to basic biology, sex is typically determined by chromosomes—XX for female and XY for male. WebMD explains that “sex chromosomes are chromosomes, or packages of DNA, that are found inside the nucleus of all your cells. There are two different kinds: X and Y, which determine whether you’re biologically male (XY) or female (XX).
Talarico has suggested the existence of six sexes based on chromosome combinations—XX, XY, X, XXY, XXXY, XYY, but experts note that beyond XX and XY, these classifications do not align with standard scientific understanding (Parsons, 2021). Some say that his statements reflect a misunderstanding of genetics and could contribute to public confusion.
Talarico is a former middle-school teacher who draws on his faith in public statements. He has said that Mary’s consent to bear Jesus illustrates that “creation has to be done with consent” (Denison, 2026, Mar). Critics argue that his interpretation of Scripture selectively aligns with his political positions. Passages such as Jeremiah 1:5 (“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…”) and Exodus 20:13 (“You shall not murder”) are cited by opponents to challenge his theological framing.
The debate highlights the intersection of science, faith, and politics in Texas, and raises questions about how biological concepts are discussed in public policy and education. If Talerico is unable to properly define a man and woman, he clearly should not be running for office.
References
Denison, J. PhD (2026, Mar) Explaining James Talarico’s Theology. Denison Ministries.
The Daily Article.
https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/explaining-james-talaricos-theology/
Levine, H. (2024, Aug). What Are Sex Chromosomes (XX and XY Chromosomes).
Medically Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, MS, DO. (2024, Aug).
https://www.webmd.com/sex/xx-and-xy-chromosomes
Parsons, V. (2021, Apr) Texas lawmaker explains in the simplest of terms that sex is a spectrum.
https://www.thepinknews.com/2021/04/26/james-talarico-sex-spectrum-six-texas/
Pinedo, P. (2026, Mar) God is non-binary’: Texas Dem nominee Talarico’s past remarks on abortion, race and gender draw scrutiny. Fox News.
Jill Keller, PH,D,
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