Tom Gabel will now be referred to as Laura Jane Grace from now on.
In an unexpected move, Gabel has decided to fulfil a life long desire to be a woman. While she's still unsure about surgery, what is known, according to the Wall Street Journal, is Gabel's decision to begin a hormone regime and electrolysis.
As Gabel points out in her only quote of the article: "Growing up, my experience with transsexualism was nothing but shame." With this announcment, hopefully she can shed light on the mystery that is gender dysphoria and create an open diologue.
While this situation is not unique, Gabel is the closest mainstream entertainer (well as close to mainstream as Against Me! is) who is openly discussing this, that I am aware of. Her actions in the past may be questionable, but she has the potential to become a role model or at least an example to others struggling with the decsion to embrace their true gender.
Rolling Stone has the full story this Friday, but whatever she says doesn't matter in this article. What matters is once the media dies down, where she goes from there.
I wish her all the luck in the world. Her, her wife, and her daughter.
By the way: being true to yourself? Totally punk as fuck.