DEE SNIDER Comments On His Recent Cancellation From Performing At SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE

TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider has issued a statement regarding the cancellation of his planned performance at San Francisco Pride due to the singer voicing his support for KISS frontman Paul Stanley’s controversial comments criticizing gender-affirming healthcare for children

San Francisco Pride is scheduled to take place June 24-25 and was set to announce TWISTED SISTER‘s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” as it’s official anthem, which Snider would also perform at the event.

“Ultimately SF Pride and Dee have mutually agreed to part ways,” the festival said in a statement, adding that Paul Stanley‘s tweet was considered “transphobic.”

Yesterday (Friday, May 5), Dee posted the following statement to his social media: “So, I hear I’m transphobic. Really?

“Why did the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade invite me, Dee Snider to be a Grand Marshal in their parade and sing ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It‘ on the center stage at what could possibly be the most important LGBTQIA+ gathering in the organization’s long history. To quote Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle’s senior political writer, ‘… Dee Snider [is] a longtime supporter of LGBTQ rights…’

“I have ALWAYS stood with the community and its important causes. I was honored to accept the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade’s invitation and I even gave my blessing for ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It‘ to be used as this year’s battle cry [‘Queer Not Gonna Take It!’).”

“Is that transphobic?

“I was not aware the Transgender community expects fealty and total agreement with all their beliefs and any variation or deviation is considered ‘transphobic.’

“So, my lifetime of supporting the Transgender community’s right to identify as they want and honoring whatever changes they may make in how they present themselves to the world isn’t enough? Why not?

“I’ve recently stated I do not believe young children are ready to decide their gender allocation. I believe their choices should be supported and accepted by their parents, but I do not think kids have the mental capabilities to make rational, logical decisions on things of a magnitude that will affect them for the rest of their lives. I do not believe they are mentally developed enough.”

“Dr. Jennifer Katzenstein [director of psychology, neuropsychology and social work, and co-director of the Center for Behavioral Health at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital] says, ‘…it is important for parents to remember that development varies across children, and that one age (such as age 7) is not the end of development, or a ‘deadline for developing reasoning skills.’ Cognitive development continues into adulthood, and as parents, it is our responsibility to continue to challenge and support our children.’

“Well said. It’s just good parenting.

“I am a proud moderate. I drive a Tesla and a Hummer. I have too many guns but strongly support intelligent gun control. I have four children yet fight for a woman’s right to choose. I am a motorcycle riding environmentalist. I am a heterosexual who proudly supports LBGTQIA+ rights. To me (and I believe to many of you) none of these things are mutually exclusive.

“The Transgender community needs moderates who support their choices, even if we don’t agree with every one of their edicts. For some Transgender people (not all) to accuse supporters, like me, of transphobia is not a good look for their cause.

“Don’t reject people who are willing to march, sing and stand with you just because we don’t perfectly see eye-to-eye. We are still your allies.

“I, Dee Snider, will continue to support the Transgender community and their right to choose even if they reject me and moving forward, I am open to educating myself so I can be a better ally.

“Sincerely, Dee Snider, your cisgender, crossdressing ally.”

Last weekend, KISS frontman Paul Stanley posted his opinion on Twitter about kids’ gender identities and the parents who are “normalizing and even encouraging participation” in embracing them, calling it a “sad and dangerous fad.”

On Sunday, April 30, Paul posted the following statement: “My Thoughts On What I’m Seeing.

“There is a BIG difference between teaching acceptance and normalizing and even encouraging participation in a lifestyle that confuses young children into questioning their sexual identification as though some sort of game and then parents in some cases allow it.

“There ARE individuals who as adults may decide reassignment is their needed choice but turning this into a game or parents normalizing it as some sort of natural alternative or believing that because a little boy likes to play dress up in his sister’s clothes or a girl in her brother’s, we should lead them steps further down a path that’s far from the innocence of what they are doing.

“With many children who have no real sense of sexuality or sexual experiences caught up in the ‘fun’ of using pronouns and saying what they identify as, some adults mistakenly confuse teaching acceptance with normalizing and encouraging a situation that has been a struggle for those truly affected and have turned it into a sad and dangerous fad.”

Those who showed public support to Paul’s post included Dee Snider.

“You know what? There was a time where I ‘felt pretty’ too,” Dee tweeted to Stanley. “Glad my parents didn’t jump to any rash conclusions!”

Snider continued: “Parents need to be less reactionary; Right and Left. No need to steer the child in either direction. Let the kid figure it out for themselves knowing their family is supportive. I had a vet/cop hardass dad who, while he shook his head A LOT…let me do my thing.”

When one Twitter user questioned Snider’s comments, Dee replied: “I guess I’ll just need to turn in my LGBTQIA+ membership card…oh wait! I’m gonna need it in a big way TBA,” apparently referring to the then-still-unannounced San Francisco Pride performance.