James Talarico’s 2021 Pride Festival Appearance Draws New Criticism
A recent report highlights Texas Senate candidate James Talarico’s participation in a 2021 Pride event that featured an 11-year-old drag performer, prompting accusations of child exploitation.
According to a new report, James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Texas, attended a Pride Month celebration in June 2021 that showcased an 11-year-old boy performing in drag under the stage name “Kween Kee Kee.” The event, staged by the nonprofit Taylor PRIDE at the Texas Beer Company, featured a children’s drag story hour, live music, and adult drag acts, with promotional material praising the child performer as the “absolute cutest & youngest” participant.
Photographs show Talarico interacting with the crowd while the boy performed a routine that included splits, which critics labeled as sexualizing a minor. An unnamed conservative organization condemned the festival as “sexually explicit and exploitation of a child.” The article also notes Talarico’s earlier controversial statements on LGBTQ topics and his recent efforts to soften his language after securing the Senate primary nomination.
Why it matters
Voters need to know about a candidate’s involvement in a controversial event that raises questions about child exploitation and LGBTQ policy positions.
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