Mike Dirnt, Billie Joe Armstrong and Tre Cool of Green Day in Hollywood in December 2023.Photo:Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty
Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty
Billie Joe Armstrongisn’t part of the transphobic agenda.
In anew interview with theLos Angeles Times, the 51-year-oldGreen Dayfrontman opened up about his thoughts toward people with anti-transgender mindsets and how cultural conversations on the topic have changed over time.
Billie Joe Armstrong performs with Green Day in Milwaukee in July 2023.Daniel Boczarski/Getty
Daniel Boczarski/Getty
“But then in the next verse, I thought I should flip the script,” said the 51-year-old musician, who identifies as bisexual. “I’m kind of playing the character of the woman, but it also felt really liberating to sing, ‘Do you wanna be my boyfriend?'”
Armstrong added, “It became more of a queer singalong.”
Billie Joe Armstrong.Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty
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Upon playing the song for a friend, the “21 Guns” vocalist said its lyrics “brought a tear to his eye.”
“Nowadays it’s more common for kids to be LGBTQ, and there’s more support,” said Armstrong in the interview. “But for us, back in the day, that was like the beginning of when people were able to openly say things like that.”
Green Day.FilmMagic
While the queer community is certainly more accepted and celebrated in many areas of culture today, anti-LGBTQ+ groups are still prevalent in society. According to theHuman Rights Campaign, “at least 31 transgender and gender non-conforming people” were violently murdered in 2023.
Armstrong has long been open about his social and political views, and he was not shy with theLA Timesregarding his thoughts on transphobic individuals. “I just think they’re f—ing close-minded,” he said.
“It’s like people are afraid of their children,” added the Grammy winner. “Why would you be afraid? Why don’t you let your kid just be the kid that they are?”
source: people.com
