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Kate Pierson, founding member of the B52’s will be releasing a new solo album on February 17, 2015 title “Guitars and Microphones” co-produced by Sia; the first single is called “Mister Sister” – a track she is referring to as a “trans[gender] anthem”.
“‘Mister Sister’ is inspired by all who are transgender and LGB, multi-dimensional and still transcending,” she told The Huffington Post in an email. “I hope it becomes a Trans anthem, but it’s really meant to empower anyone who feels ‘betrayed by the mirror.'”
It’s difficult, however, to write a “trans anthem” when you are solely concentrating on trans-woman and ignoring the trans-male. Janet Mock, Laverne Cox, Our Lady J and the release of the Transparent series on Amazon.com has pushed transgenderism into the public eye and it seems to have set the Trans merchandising machine into full gear…for trans-woman, leaving the trans-male feeling a significant level of erasure.
I reached out to Mitch Kellaway, co-editor of Manning Up Anthology and writer for the Advocate, Lambda Literary Review, and Original Plumbing to get his take on this new “trans anthem.”
Mitch states, “I’m definitely happy to see more and more folks vocally expressing their support for Trans women, its needed; Trans women face the serious brunt of society’s transphobia and violence. But even while women’s hyper-visibility has often made them targets, it’s also meant that when cis folks imagine what a “trans” person looks like, all they can envision is a trans woman. Trans men remain largely invisible in the public eye, which does have serious effects on us being able to form healthy self-images. ”
Cisgender Trans allies mean well, but often fall short of their intended goals, which should be support and understanding, yet realizing they have never walked in the shoes of a trans-person therefore knowing little about the daily struggles.
Even the track’s title, “Mister Sister” can be albeit abrasive to all Trans-people. Are trans-woman “Misters” who become “Sisters?” This in itself is offensive, but the complete lack of trans-male inclusion in the track [which could have been easily accomplished with the second verse/second chorus pop song structure] continues the issue of invisibility for the trans-male community.
“There’s been historically little brouhaha whenever Trans-men have been left out of cis people’s public statements about Trans folks,” Mitch says, “so it’s pretty easy and painless to get away with this slip.”
The campy new video features SNL alumni and Portlandia co-creator Fred Armisen, I’m assuming because he makes a great quirky stand-in for B52’s front man Fred Schnieder. Check out the video and follow Kate Pierson on Twitter @THEKATEPIERSON for album updates.