Earlier this week, KISS singer and guitarist Paul Stanley posted a controversial statement to social media where he shared some personal thoughts on gender-affirming healthcare for kids. Among the comments he expressed, the KISS member said that he feels some parents are engaging in a “sort of game” where they are “encouraging participation in a lifestyle that confuses young children into questioning their sexual identification.”
In the replies to his post, many users voiced criticism of Stanley’s statement, saying it lacked nuance or understanding. One individual who has voiced support for Stanley is former Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider. Retweeting Stanley’s statement, Snider wrote the following:
“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”
In response to Snider voicing support for Stanley’s statement, The San Francisco Pride Celebration Committee has dropped Snider as a musical act from this year’s upcoming Pride Event. Per the committee’s website, the organization is “a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded to produce the SF Pride Celebration and Parade. The mission of the organization is to educate the world on LGBTQ+ issues, as well as commemorate the heritage, celebrate the culture and liberate the people of all LGBTQ+ communities.”
It had not been publicly announced yet that Snider was going to be part of this year’s event, but upon finding out that Snider has supported Stanley’s statement, the committee announced that they are dropping Snider from the event. Here is the entire statement The San Francisco Pride Celebration Committee released:
“San Francisco Pride was on the cusp of announcing Twisted Sister’s ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ as the unofficial rallying cry of this year’s SF Pride Parade & Celebration, with the band’s frontman Dee Snider performing the song on our center stage. Dee has always been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights.
“However, when we were notified about the tweet in which Dee expressed support for KISS’ Paul Stanley’s transphobic statement, we were heartbroken and angry. The message perpetuated by that tweet casts doubt on young trans people’s ability to self-identify their gender.
“Transgender people, particularly transgender women and children of color, are disproportionately affected by hate and violence. And with transphobia proliferating and becoming more and more enshrined in law throughout the country — we have to stand up for the most impacted among us.
“We have mutually agreed to part ways, but appreciate Dee seeing this as a teachable moment and a reminder that even allies need to be educated to ensure that they are not casually promoting transphobia.
“To all our allies — we want to call you in — not call you out.”
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Paul Stanley Gets Backlash for Child Gender Reassignment Comments
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 https://t.co/G80uNyzD7M
— Dee Snider🇺🇸🎤 (@deesnider) May 1, 2023