KISS co-founder Paul Stanley and Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider were blasted as “transphobic” for commentary on the “dangerous fad” of adults “encouraging” children to change their gender identity.
Stanley blasted woke parents in a Twitter statement titled “My Thoughts On What I’m Seeing,” which he posted on Sunday.
“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,” Stanley began.
He noted that while transgender adults may opt for gender identity affirming care, parents are making a mistake by pushing hormone therapies and even gender reassignment surgeries on their young children.
— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) April 30, 2023
“There ARE individuals who as adults may decide reassignment is their needed choice,” he conceded.
“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,” he continued.
“We should lead them steps further down a path that’s far from the innocence of what they are doing.”
Stanley said that it was adults fault that they are both “normalizing” and championing the phenomenon for the sake of inclusion.
“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,” he added.
“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,” Stanley concluded.
The same day, Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, who notoriously wore a full face of makeup while performing, agreed with Stanley’s sentiment.
“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,” he replied.
Both Stanley and Snider were blasted as “transphobic” on Twitter for their comments. “This is a very disappointing take, especially from someone who wore high-heels, makeup, & teased up hair his whole career,” someone replied to the KISS rocker.
“I remember when punk rock came along and made you irrelevant the first time,” another person snarked.
While Stanley refused to react to detractors, Snider readily interacted with them. “Am I losing a hero here,” someone commented.
“Apparently so. I guess I’ll just need to turn in my LGBTQIA+ membership card…oh wait! I’m gonna need it in a big way TBA,” he replied cryptically.
“Dee, PLEASE, PLEASE DON’T fall for the bullshit being spun by the Right,” another commenter implored.
“This is no fetish, it’s not “confusion,” and it’s been noted for thousands of years though only seriously studied in the past 100.”
“Parents need to be less reactionary; Right and Left,” Snyder shot back. “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 harda– dad who, while he shook his head A LOT…let me do my thing.”
I took off the @TwistedSisterny makeup more than a decade ago, but in light of the current stupidity in the USA it just might be time to start wearing it again!
John Wick https://t.co/dmtWrK5G1j via @imgflip
— Dee Snider🇺🇸🎤 (@deesnider) April 18, 2023
Snider clearly has no problems with adults identifying with whatever gender they please, as the “We’re Not Gonna Take It” singer made clear in mid-April when he reacted to Montana’s HB359, which would ban drag performances.
When one Twitter user pointed out that the bill’s definition of drag queen was “a male or female performer who adopts a flamboyant of feminine persona with glamorous or exaggerated costumes and makeup,” Snider indicated he wanted to once again rock his full face.
“You know I haven’t worn the Twisted Sister Makeup in many years…but now I’m tempted to put it back on,” he wrote.
“In fairness, there’s a lot of us up here in Montana who wonder just how many of the members of our state government were dropped on their heads as babies because the stuff they’re pushing through doesn’t make any more sense to us than it does to anyone outside of Montana,” someone replied back.
“I’m willing to bet it’s the majority of you. The bullying minority is getting away with murder and it is time for the true majority to start pushing back…HARD,” Snider remarked.
“I took off the [Twisted Sister] makeup more than a decade ago, but in light of the current stupidity in the USA it just might be time to start wearing it again!”