Last month, Rolling Stone Magazine broke the news of Against Me!’s lead singer Tom “Tommy” Gabel as beginning his transition from male to female. As described in the article, the punk rock singer had been privately dealing with gender dysphoria since childhood. Eventually becoming Laura Jane Grace, pictured, she describes her decision as necessary and a relief to the unhappiness she has felt for a long time.
The news was a bit of a shock coming from a rough and tumble punk rock world where aggressive banter and overbearing masculinity is celebrated. However, there have been many subtle, and some obvious, hints throughout Against Me!’s music. In the band’s 2007 album New Wave, the track “The Ocean” reads: If I could have chosen I would have been born a woman / My mother once told me she would have named me Laura / I would grow up to be strong and beautiful like her / One day I’d find an honest man to make my husband.
The article also revealed that Gabel’s wife of seven years supports her transition and the two are working hard to make their marriage work. Today, MTV News posted an interview with Grace where she admitted that the Rolling Stone resulted in a severed relationship with her father. Watch a clip from of the interview below.
Grace is now on a hormone regimen and has been performing as a female on tour with British rockers The Cult. The band has been playing tracks from their upcoming album, including the song “Transgender Dysphoria Blues.” Grace’s attitude toward coming out gives weight to the true punk manifesto of independence, liberation and not giving a damn.
Tickets are still available for the Wednesday night show at the House of Blues. The Icarus Line is also on the bill.
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