(Read the above messages from bottom to top)
Muttonman makes a good point. And this is the ONLY reason I wouldn’t do the change.
I’d love to get noticed by Disney or some sort of big company- turn the thing into a good IP and all that jazz.
But knowing what you know now- do you want me to hide it back inside just so we can hopefully sell out? Is that going to make me a better person?
The real tragedy is that everyone (including me) is scared that a transgendered performer in the group would turn away new people. Worse, this person may be entertaining children. And we think our popularity is going to be reduced because not even we can publicly accept it.
There are not a lot of TG folks in media. But it’s starting to happen. I’m sure all of you could start listing a few right now.
But is it right that my desire to wear a dress and feel free is a BAD THING compared to say…your go-to pop diva’s feminine antics up there on stage? What’s more socially acceptable? Where do we draw the line? What REALLY is the big deal and what’s with the transphobic stigma that we’re cursed with?
Rabbit sure as hell isn’t going to be grinding up on anyone. He’s just becoming a girl. The main thing that’s going to “hopefully” be creepy won’t be the fact that it’s a man portraying it. But that it’s a scary looking robot. I already frighten children- but I find kids REALLY are getting desensitized. Kids are going to be frightened that I’m made of metal and look weird. Not that I’m a girl.
There are no gender bent characters for children. You can talk about She-Zow and the one-shot “gender change” episodes of some cartoons…but those are…cartoons. Your Lumpy Space Princess and Miss Piggy might be played by dudes…but they’re still cartoons and puppets.
It’s new scary territory. And I agree that a lot of people are going to be frightened and put off by it. But is that what we should do? Should we just be afraid and hide it back away? Or should we do something meaningful to us?
Furthermore, should the band just lose me and continue on with a genetic girl or another new member? That option is on the table too.
Fortunately it’s not up to anyone else but us. If the guys felt that way you would bet we wouldn’t be going forward with it.
Would you respect us more if we quieted down and didn’t face this issue?
Maybe we might never get a children’s show now. Maybe. Even then…cartoons are getting pretty progressive. The more gay characters we have in ‘em…the closer I can see Transgendered ones coming into play.
But this act isn’t even a drag show. It’s not going to be over-the-top sexy vulgarities. This is the story of singing robots who say “clusterfluff” and “poops” instead of curse words.
And is it any worse than all the drinking/sex/drug use that goes on in the entertainment people enjoy now? Some of the most popular crap is just terrible.
Food for thought.
Do we be afraid? Or do we try and pave the road? I’d rather be happy and poor than rich and depressed. And if money is all its about- there’s a hell of a lot of betterr ways to tap into mainstream than with a weird little robot band.My own thoughts on this:
When I found out Bunny was going to change Rabbit to a girl too? I thought that was awesome. For one, there’d be a lot less gender confusion on the meta-level for the band.
For two? Why not? They’re robots. It’s a chassis change. It doesn’t necessarily mean the rest of the internals are going to change too. (To be fair, I’m expecting Rabbit to be pretty much exactly the same!)
Besides. What’s wrong with this? We, as the internet whole and even anyone who enjoys media, find genderswapping to be hilarious/interesting/new and eat it up when it happens. So why not have it happen in a band whose whole thing is where they’re being robots?
As is, sexuality, gender, and the fight to be treated like a human is a real struggle for people. Saying “the world isn’t ready” for it is just making that struggle all the much harder. Forcing people to hide over who they are is just wrong. It’s not they’re saying “BE THIS BECAUSE THE OTHER OPTIONS SUCK”, it’s “hey, this is who I am. This is my character…I want them to reflect who Iam, too.”
I understand the concern, but we’re fans of the band. We love them. We may not agree with their decisions, but we damn well will do our best to support them. Because that’s what you do. Support someone you care about, no matter what.
Can’t really add much to this, as what’s been already said is beautiful, but I am 1000% supportive of Bunny in her transition and wish her the best of luck, and look forward to perhaps seeing SPG in concert someday.
I AM a new fan.
For the record, I am delighted to see/hear/experience trans* artists in any media. Bunny should not be forced to pretend to be male just for the sake of a vocal and ignorant minority.
Strictly IMO, SPG should do an entire, epic story/album/vid series about the whole thing. Rub it in their faces. The kind of fans turned off by that are the kind of fans they never needed in the first place.
Hugs to Bunny, and best of luck with the remodeling :3
