Against Me! Singer Tom Gabel Out as Transgender

  In the upcoming issue ofRolling Stone magazine, Tom Gabel, lead singer of the band Against Me!, reveals that he is transgender.

 

Gabel has struggled with gender dysphoria for years, and has finally decided to begin the process of becoming a woman – something he's only told a few family and friends about before the Rolling Stone interview.

The United Kingdom's NHS website describes gender dysphoria as a condition where people believe they have been born as the wrong sex and wish to live as the opposite sex.

To begin the process of becoming a woman, Gabel will begin taking hormones and start electrolysis treatments to remove hair, according to Rolling Stone.

The magazine reported that this is the first major rock star to come out as transgender, as well as go through the process in the public eye.

Gabel understands the huge step he is taking by bringing this out so publicly.

"I'm going to have embarrassing moments, and that won't be fun. But that's part of what talking to you is about – is hoping people will understand, and hoping they'll be fairly kind," Gabel told Rolling Stone.

Once the singer becomes a woman, he will change his name to Laura Jane Grace.

The name may sound familiar to fans, since it is featured in the lyrics from the song "The Ocean," according toSpin .

"And if I could have chosen, I would have been born a woman / My mother once told me she would have named me Laura / I'd grow up to be strong and beautiful like her," Gabel sings.

Gabel also spoke about the support he was receiving from his wife.

"For me, the most terrifying thing about this was how she would accept the news. But she's been super-amazing and understanding," Gabel said. They plan on remaining married. Gabel and his wife also have a 2-year-old daughter, Spin reported.

The 31-year-old singer founded Against Me! in 1997 when he was just 17-years-old. Gabel is originally from St. Augustine, Fla., Billboard reported.

The complete interview with Gabel will appear in the upcoming issue of Rolling Stone out on May 11th.