The embarrassing admission came while the House was considering a budget amendment suggested by Hopper that would eliminate all funding for the University of Texas at Austin because of the university’s LGBTQ+ programming and degree paths. A video of the moment Hopper was exposed for not knowing about the topic he was attempting to legislate has garnered millions of views across TikTok and Instagram reels.
The video starts with Democratic Rep. Lauren Ashley Simmons, representing parts of Houston, questioning Hopper about his amendment. Before the video starts, Hopper claims that biological sex and gender identity are “one and the same,” something Simmons refutes.
“What about intersex individuals?” Simmons asks.
“I don’t even know what that means, ma’am,” Hopper responds, prompting some laughter and chatter in the background.
Simmons goes on to “take it really slow,” in explaining what an intersex person, someone born with a combination of male and female biological traits, is. According to the United Nations’ human rights office, experts believe as many as 1.7% of people are born intersex.
“Those people, from a biological standpoint, exist. It’s not mythical. It’s not something we’re making up. Which is why I asked you, are you speaking about gender or sexuality?” Simmons said. “Because again, one is a social construct, one is more scientific.”
Hopper doubles down: “Gender is not a social construct. It’s firmly rooted in biological reality.” He then asks Simmons to explain further what intersex means, motioning to his fellow Republicans when expressing his confusion. The back and forth continues, and Simmons urges a confused Hopper to consider how intersex individuals fit into his thinking on gender being tied to biological sex.
“Those intersex individuals are still XX or XY, so you can’t change that,” Hopper said.
For a moment, there is quiet, and then a small hand comes into the frame, lightly tugging on Hopper’s jacket. Another Republican, Rep. Valoree Swanson, leans in and covers her mouth with her hand, but the microphone catches her words as she says, “Andy, that’s not true.”
Simmons ultimately filed a point of order on the matter, and after an hour of deliberation, Hopper’s budget amendment was shot down.
