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| Tom Gabel photographed by Cass Bird — |
I know this story broke already two weeks ago – but I’ve been so distracted with getting my Gainesville mom documentary All’s Well and Fair out the door that I didn’t hear about it until Margaret (who is in the film) came up from Gainesville this weekend for the premiere.
So it was revealed in the current Rolling Stone issue that Tom Gabel, the singer of Gainesville punk band Against Me! “who has dealt privately with gender dysphoria for years, will soon begin the process of transition, by taking hormones and undergoing electrolysis treatments.”
My immediate reactions are:
1. I’m happy for Tom Gabel, who will soon be known as Laura Jane Grace, that in order to be happy and be herself, she has the courage to take this big step in her personal and public life and that we have come at least this far in our society that she can do this and speak publicly about it. Congratulations on courage and new freedom, Tom!
2. I’m happy for all the transgender people who will be inspired and encouraged by this announcement and action by a celebrity AND the education that will hopefully spread through society (e.g., being transgender doesn’t mean you’re gay).
3. I’m so excited that soon we’ll have another kick-ass female punk singer (who is also a mom)!
4. Let’s listen to some more Against Me! right now.
Probably the most well-known song is “I Was A Teenage Anarchist”
My favorites are:
“Pints of Guiness Make You Strong”