Accusation of transphobia: Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider defends KISS’ Paul Stanley

Hardly any topic is discussed as passionately these days as political correctness and gender-related issues. KISS singer and guitarist Paul Stanley has now also given his opinion on this, more specifically on children whose innocent play with gender roles should not lead their parents to hasty conclusions such as gender reassignment:

“My Thoughts On What I’m Seeing. 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. 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.” – Paul Stanley

Paul Stanley goes on to say:

“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.” – Paul Stanley

Unsurprisingly, Paul Stanley was quickly accused of transphobia, and quite a few argued that they expected otherwise from someone who made a career while wearing long hair, make-up, sequin outfits and platform shoes. The Italian rockband Måneskin was confronted with similar allegations a few months ago as two band members – frontman Damiano David and guitarist Thomas Raggi – are wearing make-up and high heels, so a more gender-fluid style, despite being straight.

However, there are also many people who agree with Paul Stanley, amongst others Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider:

“You know what? There was a time where I ‘felt pretty’ too. Glad my parents didn’t jump to any rash conclusions! Well said, @PaulStanleyLive” – Dee Snider

Now Dee Snider himself is being accused of falling victim to right-wing propaganda to which he comments on as follows:

“I’m not […]. Parents need to be less reactionary; Right and Left. No need to steer the child in either direction. Let the kid figure it out for themselves knowing their family is supportive. I had a vet/cop hardass dad who, while he shook his head A LOT…let me do my thing.” – Dee Snider