Times changed
Billy Bragg admits it’s all about being trendy.
Billy Bragg has changed the lyrics of his hit song “Sexuality” in support of transgender rights.
In the original version of the song, Bragg sings: “And just because you’re gay I won’t turn you away/If you stick around I’m sure that we can find some common-ground” in support of gay rights. But, in recent live performances of the song, he has changed “gay” to “they” in support of transgender people.
Ooh, bold step. “Just because you’re they” – that’s a fine use of language right there.
Explaining why he chose to change the lyrics, Bragg wrote on Twitter: “Times changed. Anyone born since the song was released would wonder why it’s a big deal to find common ground with a gay man. The front line now is trans rights.”
And by “front line” he means “fashion.”
Gay men are kind of yawn now, and as for lesbians – could anyone be more boring and pointless? To men? No, so let’s just ignore them entirely and chase the fashion instead.
Bragg also criticised women who did not support trans rights, stating: “TBH it breaks my heart to see people who claim to be feminists siding with people who would deprive them of their rights in a moment.”
We don’t “claim” to be feminists. Billy Bragg doesn’t get to tell us we’re not feminists.
I always forget to check these things, but I’m guessing by the (rightly) furious replies and QTs I’ve seen that that last tweet is not going to ratio well.
Good.
But, wait, who are the women who really are doing that? Who are the ones who make fun of “white feminism” that isn’t intersectional? The ones who don’t mind when men “hit the head” in the women’s room? The ones who admonish parents to teach their kids to look away if they don’t want to see girldick? The ones who sign up their kids for transvestite story hours?
Who is it, Billy, that breaks your heart?
How sad. Bragg’s “Between The Wars” is one of my favourite political songs.
“Call up the craftsmen
Bring me the draftsmen
Build me a path from cradle to grave
And I’ll give my consent
To any government
That does not deny a man a living wage.”
Now Bragg sings
“And just because you’re they I won’t turn you away
If you stick around I’m sure that we can find the right pronoun.”
From “living wage” to “right pronoun”, from Ellen Wilkinson to Juno Dawson. The decline of the British Left in two songs.
Why didn’t he change the title to ‘Genderality” while he was at it. :P
What a silly argument. What if we’re in the right, should we abandon the position just because some people that are often in the wrong see the light on this one? Would they abandon their position if conservatives agreed with them? Of course not. This is just another argument of convenience – a specious argument that happens to align with the outcome they want on this occasion.
“(…) to see people who claim to be feminists siding with people who would deprive them of their rights in a moment.”
Wait, wait, that’s not what’s actually occuring while siding with the them? Losing prizes, losing visible positions, losing sports, losing safe public spaces?