Country crooner and longtime LGBTQ+ ally Brad Paisley made headlines this week after he visited Kyiv with a delegation of U.S. Senators and sang a Ukrainian-language folk song to offer a little hope to people struggling in the war-torn country.
Right wingnuts are now furious at the 50-year-old three-time Grammy Award winner for, well, we’re not entirely sure why they’re upset he did this. But they’ve been rage tweeting about it all morning.
The whole thing’s got us thinking about another time Paisley pissed off the right wing.
In 2016, during the height of the GOP’s trans bathroom panic, he went on Jimmy Kimmel’s show to voice his support for the transgender community.
At the time, North Carolina had just passed a new law banning anyone from using public restrooms that didn’t match the gender on their birth certificate.
Paisley wrote a short jingle in response to the law, inspired by Tammy Wynette’s 1968 megahit “Stand By Your Man”, which he performed for Kimmel.
“Country music dealt with this in the ’60’s,” he said.
Then, strumming his guitar, he recited the following lyrics:
Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman
Especially when you were born a man.
In North Carolina, they’re checking for vaginas
If you want to use the can.
And I say: sit by your man,
We’re all just human beings.
He’s just a human peeing…
In the stall right next to you.
Sit by your man
Why is this such a big deal?
Hike up your dress, and take a stand
And sit by your man!
Watch.
SFHarry
Good for him for trying. I’ll give him that but he is misgendering the transwoman in the stall next to the other women in the bathroom.
I think for most people the sentiment will come through though.
LeBlevsez
Yeah, it takes some people a minute to adjust, but I think Paisley just knows how to reach the people in his audience who are receptive.
A couple of years before ‘Sit by Your Man’ Paisley released a really cringey duet with LL Cool J called ‘Accidental Racist’. Not great art by any stretch of the imagination, but it also probably nudged some people in the right direction. It also gave Stephen Colbert an opportunity for parody: ‘Oopsie Daisy Homophobe’. I almost fell off my chair.
linedrive
I honestly had no idea he was an ally of the community. That’s awesome.
RyanMBecker
I knew that he had a progressive streak (by country standards) but I was never sure whether he’d ever bring up LGBT issues. That’s because of his ill-fated relationship with fellow country singer, Chely Wright. By all accounts, he was deeply in love with her. But she was distant and cold, never once offering any explanation of her demeanor. They eventually broke up, with Paisley deeply hurt. It turned out that she secretly had girlfriend, with whom she lived, while she dated Paisley. When Wright finally came out in 2010, she made a public apology to Paisley, pleading for forgiveness. In fact, she apologized on every interview she did. Paisley, who was married by now, never responded. As such, people weren’t sure whether the experience soured him on the entire LGBT community. After all, closeted people often form heterosexual partnerships under false pretenses, only to abandon their partners when they come out. This gives rise to stereotypes of gays as devious and users. Did Paisley feel this way?
Paisley’s silence was more likely due to the avoidance of awkward questions. Saying something gay would invariably invite inquiries about Wright. Not only didn’t he want to discuss the past, but was also protective of his new wife. So while Paisley participated in various charities and progressive causes (e.g. the duet with LL Cool J), he really didn’t bring up LGBT issues. But I’ve always suspected that he’s written more than a few checks to LGBT causes.
Google the article: “Chely Wright Pleads for Brad Paisley’s Forgiveness May 19, 2010” for more info.
RIGay
This is BRILLIANT!!! Way to go, Brad!!!
missvamp
at least he’s trying. it may not be the best attempt- but he’s doing something. that’s better than alot of people in the public eye.
dwick
Take me home country roads
Michael1500
All I will say right now is that we need all the straight allies we can get. And I welcome Brad P.
London_resistance
“Progressive” ???
Why is blokes dressing up as women “progressive”?
I mean it’s many things, a sexual kink, Autogynephilia, sad and a human right to dress up as your please for sure, but it’s not “progressive”!!
abfab
So then it must be ”regressive”. Yes? It’s Friday, try to unwind. Oh…I must say old chap, you sound extreamly progressive!
abfab
You also sound a lot like the tall4skin bloke who is also pretty miserable……cheerio!
London_resistance
abfab, how about answering the question: Why is blokes dressing up as women “progressive”?
Are you a bloke who likes to dress as a woman? If so, that is cool, that’s your right. But why is that “progressive” ?