Now she admits one core motivation: fear.
So I was fing scared," continues the 38-year-old Against Me!
And for those private spaces, “I don’t think that has advanced all that much.”
Credit: Ryan Lowry
Do I start this conversation, and maybe that’ll make an impact?'
I don’t have the energy to do that right now.'
It should be enough that I’m getting up on stage and singing about this stuff.
Bryce Mata
“I know confrontation rarely worksit’s like yelling at people online.
Usually people have to come to these conclusions on their own, through knowing someone personally.
It takes more time and a personal touch, a genuine interaction.
And it’s hard to have a genuine interaction with strangers.”
In the meantime, she says, “you try.
You be visible.”
She hits the road with Devouring Mothers this month and has a dozen-plus shows with Against Me!
in the fall, each a step toward beingas she observes aboveenough.
I don’t want to be just that transgender performer or that transgender musical artist.
I want to create songs and art and have those be judged on their merit alone."
Below, more questions and answers with Laura Jane Grace on keeping your head when history repeats.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: We’re chatting together as part of EW’s annual LGBTQ issue.
From an artist standpoint, what’s your opinion on those types of themes for magazines?
LAURA JANE GRACE:I think that my perspective on it changes over time.
I wonder what is actually accomplished about it.
But overall I make a run at remain optimistic.
Sometimes there are situations where this issue is being framed by straight people.
Like people are trying to benefit commercially, putting on a face?
Doing it for the clicks, on their site or the social media.
But again, I wanna have the best intentions with it and hope for the best.
What’s your perspective?
The guy who’s like “But Ilovewomen!
I exclusively f women!”
I feel like the conversation about femininity and femme performance has changed a lot over time.
How do you feel it’s changed since you’ve come out as trans?
I don’t know.
I’m struggling with that sometimes.
I find myself reaching a point of “Okay, can we fing move on?”
My life has kept moving.
I never get to forget who I am, my gender identity.
I wrote a fing book!
It’s all right there!
At the same time, I’m thankful for the representation that’s been already there inadvertently.
I attribute that to David Bowie or Madonna that have blurred the gender lines, even in normie ways.
Like in the last 100 years, it used to be controversial for dudes to grow their hair long.
That’s how long it takes for the needle to move.
I get really impatient.
Right, and that immediately makes me think ofthe Met Gala.
But for us it’s who are, it’s not a costume.
How have you thought about what you share in public versus private, particularly on social media?
How has that changed over time?
Then I got to this point where I was like, I’m just giving away work!
I think there’s so many benefits and detriments to social media.
Because at any moment that can be ripped away from you, taken away from you or controlled.
You get to a point where it was, like, how much of myself am I giving away?
you’re able to’t put toothpaste back in the tube.
When’s a time when you felt like you shared too much?
Def after writing a book.
What’s your best way to reclaim that?
Or confident in feeling like it’s still yours?
Being quiet and listening.
I don’t want to be that person.
I’d rather just be quiet than be that person.
You’ve been open about hormone and surgical treatments since coming out.
There’s a nuance to it that’s hard to explain sometimes.
You wanna be left alone.
There’s the same thing within the trans community.
So you’re out there and looking out for each other.
That’s legit, that’s why you share.
That’s hard to explain, I just know it when I see it.
Where’s a place you’ve felt the safest since coming out?
I’d rather it be real.
It’s never really safe.
[Laughs] Stay calm!
You’re never safe!
Celebrate 50 years of gay pride withEntertainment Weekly’sspecial LGBTQ double issue, on stands today (June 7).
