It's not a scenario most of us envisage in our married life. A punk singer who's married with a 2-year-old is revealed he's transgendered.
Tom Gabel, frontman of Against Me! told Rolling Stone Magazine of his plans to "start living as a woman"—the first step of which will see Tom change his name to Laura Jane Grace.
"For me, the most terrifying thing about this was how she would accept the news," 31-year-old Gabel said of his wife, Heather. "But she's been super-amazing and understanding." The couple will remain married even as Gabel begins hormone therapy and electrolysis treatments, with a view to later undergoing gender reassignment surgery.
Gabel's band members have been equally supportive, releasing this statement on tumblr:
"So Tom's gonna be Laura now... and in 2012 I still find people on the internet commenting on another persons life how they insult and condemn a person for his choices. How about the people who go through this and never find peace and end up committing suicide? Would you rather that? Or maybe he could become a raging drug addict and ruin his life and family? Would you rather that?"
Against Me! will begin touring with The Cult later this month.
While I applaud Gabel's bravery for opening up about his experience, and in doing so contributing to increased transgender acceptance, I feel for his wife. I mean, what a colossal mind f*ck!
Would you stand by your significant other if he/she came out of the closet, or is gender bending a deal-breaker?
Printer-friendly version