Against Me frontwoman: Arcade Fire should have a real trans person in their video, not Spider-Man
The lead singer of Against Me! has attacked Arcade Fire’s new trans-centred new music video, which featured Andrew Garfield.
The video, release by Arcade Fire last week, features Amazing Spider-Man star Garfield as a trans woman, putting on a wig, bra and make-up, before going out in public for the first time and suffering a transphobic beating.
However, Against Me!’s lead singer Laura Jane Grace – who came out as transgender in 2012 – has attacked the video for exploiting trans issues without featuring an actual trans person.
She tweeted: “Dear Arcade Fire: maybe when making a video for a song called ‘We Exist’ you should get an actual ‘trans’ actor instead of Spider-Man?”
“It’s called “We Exist” and there is no representation of that existence.
“There are many Trans/non-binary people who don’t have to act gender queer to do a flash dance scene.”
Dear @arcadefire , maybe when making a video for a song called “We Exist” you should get an actual “Trans” actor instead of Spider-Man?
— Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) May 22, 2014
@LukePii yes, I have and there are many Trans/non-binary people who don’t have to act gender queer to do a flash dance scene — Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) May 22, 2014
She added that the video “inaccurately plays on and perpetuates stereotypes”, but joked: I would have had no complaint if it was Tobey Maguire ;)” Responding to media coverage today, she added: “Wasn’t [my] intention to ‘slate’. All art is open to criticism. They submit their albums to be reviewed in magazines right?”
@lailla85 wasn’t the intention to “slate”. All art is open to criticism. They submit their albums to be reviewed in magazines right? — Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) May 23, 2014
Watch the clip below:
