I played a show back on March 20, 2026 with Liz Shine and the HRT and Juliet and the East. I was sick and didn't realize how sick until right before I was getting on stage. I told this story at the show while delirious with fever!
I stopped talking to my parents a few years ago because they are completely lost to the Trump and Fox News cult of Christian Nationalism. They refuse to recognize that their vote for Trump was a vote against my rights as a trans person, their son’s rights. There’s no logic that will get through to them. There’s no piece or mountain evidence of anti-trans things that Trump and republicans have done that will help them connect the dots. Any such effort usually results in something being said about fake news or outright gaslighting. So when my dad texted me after Charlie Kirk was taken off this planet saying, “Do you like what’s happened lately?” I rolled my eyes and let out an audible “pffft.” Clearly I should be upset that there was one fewer hate monger in the world. The message went on, “We’re concerned about your well being. Love you. You’re always in our hearts” Dozens of fantasy texts were drafted. Concerned for my well being? You’re so concerned that you had no trouble voting for someone with a clear anti-trans agenda. Three times. Do I like what’s going on in the world? No I don’t like the genocide happening in Gaza or ICE harassing and abducting people or losing my rights as a trans person. I don’t like healthcare or food not being a basic human right in the richest country in the world. I don’t like rapists and pedophiles not being held accountable. I went on about the endless horrors and atrocities.
But I didn’t send those texts. Instead I went with a bit of a leading question. “What exactly are you asking that I like or not? And what exactly are you concerned about.” The response was vague something about being concerned about my health and well being. I didn’t respond. You know there was a time when I gave my parents a bit of a break. I thought, well, they didn’t know any better in the 1970’s and 80’s. But when they have continued to double down on Trump despite their son being in danger from his policies, I thought, no, you actually don’t deserve a break. My parents didn’t protect me for being a little trans weirdo. They didn’t accept or affirm who I was just because I was their kid. The were ashamed and did everything they could to try to force me to be gender normative. So they really don’t deserve a break now or back then. I grieve the loss of my family regularly. I often wonder if my parents had kept me safe as a trans kid what my life might have been like. But despite their lack of support, I went on to fight for myself, to be this trans man, this trans elder, you see before you today. This song is about little me and a real experience I had with my family. Let’s all do what we can to protect trans kids and adults.
*Image credit: etsy seller