In distancing himself from his earlier support of trans people, James Talarico may have thought he’d keep himself from being cast as Them, but he participated in the exact story that casts him that way.

He could have said “exclusion isn’t good for our team. I will always stand with trans kids and all trans people, and that’s how you know I’m going to stand for all of you. Texas is for everyone in Texas, and the United States is for everyone in the United States. We don’t harass kids in my Texas. In fact, we don’t harass anyone. I hope to earn everyone’s support, but if taking away kids’ health care is what I need to do to get it, then I’ll work for the basic human rights of trans kids without your support, and I’ll work for your basic human rights without your support, too.”

Instead, he did what he has done. Talarico very likely has persuaded the bullies that he will back down to pressure, and persuaded trans people that he’d rather be liked by Republican bigots than by trans people in Texas, and that even if he wins in November, they’ll be on their own.