At a time where anti-trans laws are coming fast and furious, Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley has decided to hop on Twitter and issue a statement on the matter. Keep in mind this isn't just a series of tweets that were compiled into a paragraph, either – this is a whole "text on a white background" statement posted to all Stanley's social media.
And look, I'm not trying to be one of those "shut up and play yer music/keep yer opinions outta politics" folks. All I'm saying is that it feels weird that Stanley decided to issue this big, calling-attention-to-itself statement apropos of seemingly nothing whatsoever.
"There is a BIG difference between teaching acceptance and normalizing and even encouraging participation in a lifestyle that confuses young children into questioning their sexual identification as though some sort of game and then parents in some cases allow it," wrote Stanley.
"There ARE individuals who as adults may decide reassignment is their needed choice but turning this into a game or parents normalizing it as some sort of natural alternative or believing that because a little boy likes to play dress up in his sister's clothes or a girl in her brother's, we should lead them steps further down a path that's far from the innocence of what they are doing.
"With many children who have no real sense of sexuality or sexual experiences caught up in the 'fun' of using pronouns and saying what they identify as, some adults mistakenly confuse teaching acceptance with normalizing and encouraging a situation that has been a struggle for those truly affected and have turned it into a sad and dangerous fad."
Reactions to Stanley's statement have been mixed. Twisted Sister vocalist and solo artist Dee Snider commented "You know what? There was a time where I 'felt pretty' too. Glad my parents didn't jump to any rash conclusions! Well said, [Paul]."
The Offspring's guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman was a little more critical, saying "This is a very disappointing take, especially from someone who wore high-heels, makeup, & teased up hair his whole career. As a young kid your band helped teach me that I could be whatever I wanted to be. I guess it was just gimmickry after all. #thatsashame."
Then there's noted music critic Anthony Fantano, who simply commented "ugh paul what the fuck?????" and producer Steve Albini, who stayed sharp as ever saying "I remember when punk rock came along and made you irrelevant the first time."
