Laura Jane Grace at the Rock and Roll Hotel

[Amelia Pond]

Laura Jane Grace at the Rock and Roll Hotel
Stephen Bradley, September 9, 2013

For Laura Jane Grace, who appeared here recently at the Rock and Roll Hotel, the last few years must have been something like being buffeted by a strange whirlwind. Most people know Laura Jane Grace for fronting the folk punk band Against Me! But her life has changed considerably since the last time the band released any material. For one thing, many people still recognize her as Tom Gabel.

In 2012, Grace came out publicly as a transsexual woman, stating that she had been dealing with gender dysphoria since she was a child. Essentially, that meant she had been suffering significant psychological discontent due to the conflict between her given gender and gender roles generally assigned by society.

Gender dysphoria is a condition and issue that's gained more attention over the last several years but is still struggling for acceptance, as are most transgendered people. In a musical genre still regarded as male-dominated – albeit one that is more recognized for acceptance than others – Grace's public revelation of her condition and her decision for gender reassignment therapy is a strong and bold one.