Texas State Representative James Talarico is taking a stand against anti-LGBTQIA+, sexist, and racist legislation in the state. Talarico claims Christian nationalists have allowed non-secular motivations to infect policy and he’s using the bible to prove their bigotry is unfounded.
“There is nothing Christian about Christian nationalism”
Representative Talarico is known for his staunch advocacy for LGBTQIA+ rights and for being a member of the Democratic Party in Texas. During a recent news conference at the Texas Capitol, he highlighted the detrimental impact of “Christian nationalists” citing events like the 2021 Capitol Riots and the overturning of Roe v Wade in 2022.
Talarico called out the influence Christofascism has been having on state politics. SB 763 proposed the replacement of school counsellors with untrained priests in public schools. He condemned the bill for attempting to inject anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiments and extreme religious beliefs into educational institutions under the guise of Christian principles.
Talarico invokes the teachings of Jesus Christ, emphasising the importance of love and acceptance for all individuals, and stresses the fact that Jesus advocated for love and compassion, not for the imposition of religious doctrines on others.
“Jesus never asked us to kill police officers. Jesus never asked us to ban books, silence teachers, or defund schools,” he says in his speech. “Jesus never asked us to control women’s bodies. Jesus never asked us to establish a Christian theocracy.”
Though SB 763 was passed, school boards across Texas rejected replacing counsellors with chaplains; Talarico calls this a win in the fight against Christian nationalism. Without vigilant allies paying attention, the US legislature is at risk of falling to theocracy.
“We are called to love all of our neighbours, and that is exactly the opposite of what Christian Nationalism does in the world,” says Talarico.
