Tom Gabel, married punk rocker, considering sex change
Singer Tom Gabel from Against Me! performs onstage during KROQ’s LA Invasion concert held at the Home Depot Center on September 15, 2007 in Carson, California.
Tom Gabel, the married lead singer of Florida punk rock band Against Me!, is to become a woman.
The 31-year-old, whose new name will be Laura Jane Grace, has told Rolling Stone that as a child he felt disconnected from his body and has a condition called gender dysphoria.
He says he plans to take hormones, undergo electrolysis and is also considering gender reassignment surgery.
"Growing up, my experience with transsexualism was nothing but shame," he said.
Gabel said he was not attracted to men and would still be married to wife Heather, with who she has a 2-year-old daughter.
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"For me, the most terrifying thing about this was how she would accept the news,.. but she's been super-amazing and understanding," the singer said.
According to the Independent, "Tom Gabel" became a trending topic on Twitter soon after the story appeared on Rolling Stone's website, with other punk musicians and fans offering messages of support.
Itch, of recently disbanded UK ska-punk band The King Blues wrote: "Take pride in being whoever the f*ck you want to be @tommygabel"
New Jersey punk rockers The Gaslight Anthem used their blog to criticize those that had condemned Gabel's decision, the Independent wrote.
Against Me! is best known for the song Thrash Unreal. The group will go on tour with The Cult later this month.
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