Interesting, I never pictured the character in Android as a trans person, honestly what I had in mind was more of a mentally unwell, possibly unhoused, person that perhaps had no other choice but to wear woman’s shies. Given, all of that in today’s lens is very problematic, but the song is 33 years old after all and I didn’t really have an understanding of trans people when I first heard it more than 20 years ago. Though I did pretty clearly understand the meaning of the line in basketcase.
Idk, maybe it’s because I grew up with them and Billie Joe was a queer idol for me growing up, but king for a day never struck me as demeaning towards people who cross dress or people who are trans either. Just a (probably autobiographical) song about breaking gender norms.
I am almost as old as Android and probably my views are getting outdated so feel free to ignore my ramblings. Just interesting to see how the world has changed even from when I was little confused kid. (Now I’m a big confused kid)
Yeah, I read that as the homeless person is wearing woman’s shoes and is crazy, not that he’s being judged as crazy for wearing woman’s shoes. Nothing in android’s lyrics struck me as transphobic.
In king for a day I see homophobia in general represented by the dad character and the implication that the “guys” will do something bad - but that’s the point, isn’t it? To condemn the homophobia?
Idk, I think that when it comes to interpretation there is no winning when up against someone with an agenda. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I don’t really have an agenda, as I’m neither trans, queer, or particularly in contact with the community except by Lemmy. I just think the core ideas are kind of old tropes about trans sex workers and crazy homeless men in drag who can’t fit into society (the idea being if you’re not an android you might be doomed).
You can say that I’m unfairly making trans people to be over sensitive if you want.