Democrat activist and internet influencer Harry Sisson found himself at the center of controversy during an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored Tuesday evening. The discussion spiraled into a fiery exchange after Sisson failed to provide a definitive answer to a seemingly straightforward question: “How many genders are there?”
The question, posed during a panel discussion on President Donald Trump’s recent executive order defining sex as strictly male or female, left Sisson deflecting and dodging amid growing scrutiny from the other panelists.
The debate stemmed from Trump’s Monday night executive order, which mandates that federal agencies recognize only two sexes—male and female. The order specifies that all government-issued documents and policies must reflect biological sex and replaces the term “gender” with “sex” in official language.
According to the executive order, its purpose is to “defend women’s rights and protect freedom of conscience by using clear and accurate language and policies that recognize women as biologically female and men as biologically male.”
Supporters of the directive argue it promotes clarity and defends biological science, while critics denounce it as exclusionary and regressive.
During the segment, Sisson argued against the executive order, claiming it “makes absolutely no sense” and predicting it would face significant legal challenges. However, the panel shifted focus when political commentator Dave Rubin directly asked Sisson, “How many genders are there?”
Rubin’s persistent questioning put Sisson on the defensive. He responded, “There are at least two genders,” but refused to elaborate on what additional genders might exist.
Host Piers Morgan pressed further, asking, “What are the other ones?” Sisson deflected, accusing the panel of lying and interrupting his explanations. He criticized the discussion for focusing on cultural issues rather than addressing the executive order directly.
“Again, these guys don’t know what they’re talking about,” Sisson said. “I’m gonna use [former President] Joe Biden’s answer—at least two. That satisfies the craze you guys got going on. There’s at least two.”
The lack of a clear answer only intensified the debate, with Rubin and Morgan continuing to challenge Sisson’s stance.
Trump’s executive order aligns with the views of a significant portion of Americans. A June 2023 poll by the Public Religion Research Institute (PPRI) found that 65% of Americans believe there are only two genders.
The survey, conducted among 5,000 adults, revealed a stark cultural divide on the issue. While supporters of the binary definition cite scientific and biological evidence, critics argue it dismisses the lived experiences of non-binary and transgender individuals.
Sisson’s appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored mirrored this divide, as the panel’s conservative members emphasized the scientific basis for Trump’s order, while Sisson framed the policy as an attack on inclusivity.
Trump’s executive order also addresses the implications of gender ideology, describing it as a “false premise” that asserts individuals can change their sex based on identity. The order further stipulates that government-issued identification must accurately reflect biological sex, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to what it terms “biological reality.”
“Biological males cannot identify as and thus become women, and vice versa,” the order states.
Critics of the order, including Sisson, argue that it undermines the rights of transgender and non-binary individuals by erasing their identities in federal recognition.
However, supporters counter that the policy is necessary to prevent confusion in areas like athletics, public accommodations, and legal documentation, where sex-based distinctions have traditionally been significant.
The clash during Piers Morgan Uncensored highlighted the depth of the cultural divide on gender issues. Sisson’s inability—or unwillingness—to provide a definitive answer to the question of how many genders exist became a focal point for conservatives on the panel, who viewed it as emblematic of broader inconsistencies in progressive arguments on gender ideology.
Sisson, meanwhile, accused the panel of sidestepping substantive issues in favor of cultural provocations, stating that the executive order itself was “designed to stoke division.”
Harry Sisson gets absolutely smoked when he can’t answer this simple question:
“How many genders are there?” pic.twitter.com/do320iNStZ— Brick Suit (@Brick_Suit) January 21, 2025
The exchange has sparked widespread discussion online, with critics of Sisson labeling his response as evasive. Supporters, however, praised him for standing his ground against what they described as an unfair interrogation.
As the debate over Trump’s executive order continues, it remains to be seen whether the legal challenges Sisson predicted will materialize. What is clear, however, is that the cultural divide on gender issues shows no signs of abating.
Sisson’s appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored is just the latest flashpoint in a broader debate that has come to dominate political discourse in the United States. Whether framed as a defense of science or an attack on inclusivity, Trump’s executive order has reignited questions about the role of government in defining identity—and about how society navigates the complexities of gender in the 21st century.
Erica Carlin is an independent journalist, opinion writer and contributor to several news and opinion sources. She is based in Georgia.
