Transexual Laura Jane Grace From Against Me! Feels Empowered

Against Me!’s Laura Jane Grace, who was once formerly known as Tom Gabel before announcing in a Rolling Stones article he would become a woman, has told MTV News that she feels “empowered as a woman.”

The punk rocker is currently going through treatments to transition into a woman, telling the music news outlet, “My life improves every single day.” The rocker, who is currently headlining a tour that includes the likes of The Cults, and Joan Jett, explains, “It feels like I’m in control of my life, and I’m in control of my person, and that’s empowering. Saying to someone, ‘I’m a transsexual’ is the most empowering thing I’ve ever felt in my whole life.”

Grace admitted that keeping her true wish to become a woman a secret has hurt some of her closest friendships. “I’ve been an absolute ass in so many ways, just from, you have this thing you’re dealing with that you don’t know how to process it, and it bears on you. It comes out in so many different ways. … You express your anger at what is going on, and you take it out on your closest friends. And now, I’ve obviously apologized.”

One relationship that seems to be tarnished for good is her relationship with her father, who is said to have not supported his former son’s decision to make the transition from man to woman. However, Laura Jane Grace’s bandmates support her 100 percent. Bassist Andrew Seward recalls the band’s experience when they heard the news, “It was kind of simple in a way. It sounds cheesy, but it’s not: You just want your friend to be happy. When this came out, I think the bottom line for all of us was just ‘be happy.’ ”

Do you think Laura Jane Grace is brave for making the transition in the public eye? Sound off here.