I think its really cool what she is doing. I did read about it on one of the UK news sites, (daily mail).
After reading it and thinking 'Aww, thats so cute they are happy together" I made the mistake of reading through the comments, some were positive, but there are a load on there that are like this:
"freak!"
"thats disgusting"
"that poor kid, having a ->-bleeped-<- dad"
Anyway, the one comment that got me thinking was the one about the kid. Poor kid... really? Two parents who love each other and there child, are staying together, have an interesting life, and a nice income.  The only thing thats going to be bad is the way the people that are making those comments in the first place act!

I had two hetero 'normal' parents, and it did'nt work out well for me, I was abused and neglected, and ended up in hospital and almost died. Its bad people that should'nt be parents, not people who are gay or TG or whatever! They are basically saying gay or TG people should'nt have kids, when the only issue i can see is that bigoted people don't keep their mouths shut.
Sorry for the rant, i just got wound up and had to vent!

Quote from: MeghanAndrews on May 12, 2012, 10:34:39 AM
Against Me! was a well-known band in punk circles but those circles aren't, or weren't until recently, really the majority of music listeners. Punk never stopped existing after 1979 it just morphed into No Wave, New Wave, Post Punk, Emo, Screamo, Gutter Punk, Riot Grrrl, etc. In male-dominated punk circles that Against Me! was pretty much a part of, they were pretty big. This is their most popular song. I forgot how much I liked them. The song after it is a song by them from this year called "Transexual Dysphoria Blues." It reminds me of my own transition a little, going from the person people view as the guy in that band to the more sensitive type, longer hair, etc.

Against Me! - "Thrash Unreal"
Against Me! - Thrash Unreal (Video)

Against Me! - "Transgender Dysphoria Blues"

I played the clips and they sound absolutely nothing like punk rock! they are really good and remind me a little of Nickleback! I prefer the first song better than the second.

Lol, the definition of punk has changed over the years. Nickelback, lol, that's funny. I think you almost have to know their significance in the genre to appreciate who they are as a band. It's not Sex Pistols, Sham 69, British stuff of the 70's, a lot different but a lot of the same kind of message: "I'm going to do what I'm going to do, have my tats, wear what I want and I don't care what you say!" A lot of the later stuff into the mid - late 80's became more personal and less politically charged, more like, hmm, to quote one of my main bands of my youth, Rites of Spring, which to me, kind of personifies the movement toward the personal from political in punk music (1985-ish) in their song "Theme":

Cruelty is the better part of your honesty
And when you're so direct its just for yourself to protect
And if I started crying, would you start crying?
Now I started crying - why are you not crying?

Sometimes--when I--see a world inside
Sometimes--when I--I try--I really try

And hope's just another rope to hang myself with
To tie me down till something real comes around
And if I started crying would you start crying?
And if I started crying why are you not crying?"

I think with Against Me! it's the same kind of principal. Their earlier work was very much political and focused on the business of music, but in the mid to late 2000's they got a lot more personal with their lyrics like this:

"Because of the shame I associate with vulnerability
I am numbing myself completely.
Can you hear me right now?
I watched your mother bury you today, with tears in her eyes.
It wasn't her words that shook me, it was the resemblance you shared.

Don't it feel so detached and unreal? Don't it seem so far away?
Like the past never happened, or like nothings ever changed.
With your casket open in front of me,
your eyes closed and your lips silent.
With my name tattoo'd into your skin."

I dunno, I can't listen to Nickelback and hear Against Me! but it might just be because I'm really in tune with the genre. You know, where's Tekla? I figured I'd be hearing some Tekla thoughts on this one. TEKLA! Where are you???

Punk Music to me means... The Ramones, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Misfits, Black Flag, Social Distortion, NOFX, Rancid... and most famous currently today Green Day.

Many would say GD are no longer punk as they are "too mainstream"... but I still like like em. And BillieJoe is a cutie. 

Punk is dead! 

That is so awesome! See, things are changing! Hopefully someday soon, I can start putting my comics out there, where a few of my main characters are trans superheroes still in the early stages of transition. I honestly know of only one trans superhero and even she/he isn't all that clear cut. They're more... well, genderqueer, I guess. The other I know of is a shapeshifting skrull, who is a male scrull - genetically - but prefers to be in female human form. These cases are almost like beating around the bush of trans theory and concept in comic books. Meanwhile, there are plenty of openly gay and lesbian comic book characters. Meh...

All in due time, I suppose. Sorry to go off topic.

Quote from: JennX on May 15, 2012, 07:08:28 AM
Punk Music to me means... The Ramones, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Misfits, Black Flag, Social Distortion, NOFX, Rancid... and most famous currently today Green Day.

Many would say GD are no longer punk as they are "too mainstream"... but I still like like em. And BillieJoe is a cutie. 

Punk really originated in the USA in 1974 with the New York Dolls and Iggy Pop. It was then taken and re-packaged in the U.K by the Sex Pistols and the Clash etc in 1976 - 1977. Punk then developed into new wave at the end of the 1970's and early 80's.

The pictures I've seen of the guy from 'Against me' wouldn't immediately make me think he had gender dysphoria. From what I remember both Wayne County and Mark Free appeared feminine and were pushing their femininity long before their transitions.

Has anyone read the Rolling Stone article? Someone left the issue in the lunchroom at work today. I grabbed it because it was about Game of Thrones and didn't even notice the headline until later in the day. I immediately picked it up and started reading. It's interesting and familiar, all at once. Didn't get to finish it yet, though.

I went and got that issue today..the story was touching, funny, and very familiar. When I was younger I didnt really get punk, it wasnt until the last few years that I  started liking it and against me was one of my fav newer bands. I would always listen to them on my way to "meetings" in the early days of my transition and never would have guessed at the implications...best wishes to her!

I read the Rolling Stone article just recently but she is not the first well known "transgender" musician, there have been many.  She might be the first transsexual MtF rocker though.

Link to article

Quote from: UCBerkeleyPostop on November 03, 2012, 10:07:53 PM
I read the Rolling Stone article just recently but she is not the first well known "transgender" musician, there have been many.  She might be the first transsexual MtF rocker though.

Link to article

Jayne County was the first well known punk rock transgendered transsexual over 30 year ago!

I'm old enough to remember punk from the first time and can assure you it certainly isn't dead.Visit the Rebellion punk festival a 4 day event in Blackpool in early August and see for yourself.I went to 3 of the last 4 no trouble no transphobia no attitude lost my voice stiff as a board lost my hearing it was great!

Quote from: Naturally Blonde on May 16, 2012, 06:19:32 AM
Punk really originated in the USA in 1974 with the New York Dolls and Iggy Pop. It was then taken and re-packaged in the U.K by the Sex Pistols and the Clash etc in 1976 - 1977. Punk then developed into new wave at the end of the 1970's and early 80's.

The pictures I've seen of the guy from 'Against me' wouldn't immediately make me think he had gender dysphoria. From what I remember both Wayne County and Mark Free appeared feminine and were pushing their femininity long before their transitions.

i wouldn't quite call the following band punk, but they're interesting to hear

i'm sure you're already familiar with punk's roots in garage music, but something about this particular track is just really punk
you can hear some of the sound on unused portions from the sessions of miles davis' on the corner, although i can't find the relevant tracks on youtube