First Major Magazine to feature Keith Mina's Transitioning
Thursday, August 4, 2011 | 3 Comments Everything started peacefully and low key. We'd have tweets here and there, followed by a handful of Facebook posts and photos. Nothing out of the ordinary.
And then, you know, just for kicks, we had a photo floating around, followed with a semi-publicizing tweet, and before we knew it, everything went insane. Why? Someone thought it would be fun to send the picture to a "rock news site," and they totally ran with it by saying Keith had a sex change.
Here's the truth: Nobody had a sex change, as in nobody had genitals removed. What happened was someone took the first steps in becoming who they are: Their true self.
As the craziness ensued, Keith Mina received a ton of requests for interviews. And in that midst, a well-intentioned, polite, and wonderful human being by the name of George Garner from a "tiny" rock magazine name Kerrang! had a serious, enlightening, thought provoking discussion with Keith Mina. He had the desire shed a true light amongst all the hoopla that went down.
Click above to download the article in .pdf!
His intentions were dynamite. George, we love you and thank you for the time and generousity to make things right in the topsy-turvy world of rock and roll journalism.
However, nothing in life goes as planned, as Kerrang's top dogs showed us by saying no to publishing the full, in-depth story. They only allowed for one page at the time.
George promises to work on getting the full piece out to the public.
In the meantime, here's what will be in the upcoming issue of Kerrang!, which will be out on Wednesday, August 10, 2011.
P. S. George, just for clarification, it's Neptune Darlings, not Neptune Dolls. We still love you!
Enjoy.
Visit Kerrang! at http://www.kerrang.com
Reader Comments (3)
What a terrible article...
I think the saddest thing I noticed growing up with the Internet is that most artists are just plain dumb when they start talking about anything else than their art.
Don't mistake me : they can also be terrific human beings, just as Keith Mina is. But when it comes to thinking clearly, they frankly tend to be quite helpless.
In the Metallica documentary "Some Kind of Monster", you could already see how childish artists can be (seeing Dave Mustaine explaining how his albums will never be as good as Metallica's is an awful experience for any fans of either bands). And you can basically see in everyday's news how disconnected from the lives of the less fortunate people are the ones who live in mansions, travel all around the world while lecturing "the rich" (as if they were not) about their lifestyle (which they won't abandon themselves, of course) or the "system" (as if they were not feeding it or being fed by it) for being unfair - though quite generous to them.
But I digress and this paragraph was not about Keith Mina. So let's get back to this article and his transition from being a talented musician to being a singing cliché of the I-represent-a-community-therefore-I-am kind.
Once again, don't mistake my purpose : I love Keith Mina and I love his music, and I will always support his art. BUT that doesn't prevent me from using my brains and detecting bullshit when some comes across my nose, and that's why I have to speak my mind up. Please consider this the thoughts of a loudmouth about the sayings of another one. I just hope every reader will understand this.
So what am I mad/sad about ? And why do I think Keith Mina is being dumb here ? Well, first I think he had a beautiful secret, although I perfectly understand it was a heavy one. And he just let his ego loose - the Demon in me ? - and now every interview he will ever give is going to be about what should have remained private and every person he will ever meet will feel the need to ask him about it. At a time when he was struggling to find a label, he made - what I think is - the worst mistake of his life by letting everyone label him "TRANSGENDER". For better or for worse that's what he's now going to be for the rest of his life.
He was a musician and the reviews he got were only based on what he DID. And that was the greatest thing any human being could ever wish for. Because this means NOT being judged for who you are - which is close to nothing. Yet now, in this mediocre era where everyone wants cheap fame - Warhol's 15 minutes nightmare come true : Reality TV - our sweet Keith Mina listened to the wrong angel, and chose to be loved / respected for who he IS. Which is pure vanity.
You think that is a strong word and that he doesn't deserve it ? Well, let's pick up some things from the article then :
« Keith Caputo was once an angry young man (…). Now he's a woman. » This is half the truth. If you read the article carefully as well as his tweets regarding this topic, you'll understand that he's an angry grown-up woman ranting against the « system », « society », etc.
« People think that because you're transgendered you're homosexual – which I'm not » Well, if you're a woman « in the brain » who love other women « in the sex », somehow, yes, you are. But, here again, you should see where the whole thing is going to be about from now on : who you are instead of what you do. Vanity, plain and simple.
Finally there's the idiotic example about the toilets. Here's the artist's breathtaking logic : « There are no toilets for transgendered people, for example, WHICH IS WHY there are so many brutalities and beatings. » Did you actually say that ? Because that's one of the dumbest things I've ever read. There are some acts of violence against transgendered people (gosh, I hate this word... it sounds as if you were the result of some kind scientific experiment. Please find another adjective !) because there are some STUPID people committed them, and NOT because there is no special place for you to make poo-poo. And to settle the toilet argument, last time I checked, toilets are about the genitals, not the brain. Hence the humiliating man / woman standard pictograms (yes, I'm being a bit sarcastic, but come on...). And if there's anyone out there who thinks he/she can counterargue with the toilets for the disabled, let me just remind him/her that it's because they need more room for their wheelchair (for instance). Not for their ego. And if you don't agree with this, then go back to the previous points about being angry and ranting in-the-name-of-whatever-community.
There is one last – dumb, yes – part I wanted to comment : « If the authorities and the people who make laws would be sensitive towards the idea that human beings come in all different shapes, in different forms and desires, there would be a lot more love in the world. » These are the words of a selfish dreamer. Selfish, yes, because if the authorities were to make laws to satisfy the desires of every human being (since we are all different, aren't we?), that would be the end of the common good, thus paving the way towards clientelism – which is already here, yes, and that's why I don't see how more of the same shit would be an improvement. Laws are made for EVERYONE, not for communities, minorities or individuals. Once again, that's your ego talking.
That's it. Now I'm shutting my big mouth. And everyone – or anyone who didn't understand a single thing I was trying to say – will certainly insult me for things I didn't write or even think. Because these are the crappy times we live in. Instead of arguing about what you write and nothing else, they will try to get to what you are. Ironic ? No, that's scary actually.
I won't congratulate you on joining this masquerade, that's for sure.
But I still love you. And yes, for what you are too.
...and I think it takes a lot of guts to speak up. That is all I have to say. Maybe every little fact isn't perfect, but it can serve as a real touchstone to people in a similar stage in their life. I know this because I asked people.
Don't you think maybe you shouldn't come across sounding so nasty towards the Gay community since they, regardless of dick sucking, are the ones who will provide you with the most support during your transition?
I mean, in your video "I have monsters", it suggests that you make out with a man... is that not real? was that just for the video?
I don't get it. Of course i understand transitioning since i have friends that are post-op, but where i thought you were setting out to make a beautiful statement about being true to yourself, this interview comes across like a confused person that is almost homophobic... its reads as "I ain't a fag and i don't suck cock"...
well if thats the way it was intended... should i dare to ask
Are you transitioning so you can be a Dyke?