Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesTom Gabel wants to sing an honest tune about who he is.
The lead singer of the punk-rock group Against Me! has come out as transgender and reveals that he will begin living life as a woman.
Gabel spilled the news to Rolling Stone, making him the first major rock star to cop to being transgender.
Gabel tells the mag that he's considering gender-reassignment surgery and will soon begin the transition by taking hormones and undergoing electrolysis.
The 31-year-old, who has a wife and a 2-year-old daughter, says he's been suffering from gender dysphoria for years and explains that "growing up, my experience with transsexualism was nothing but shame."
He plans to remain married but will now change his name to Laura Jane Grace.
"For me, the most terrifying thing about this was how she would accept the news," he says of his wife, Heather. "But she's been super-amazing and understanding."
Gabel also adds that he's prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. "I'm going to have embarrassing moments, and that won't be fun," he explains, but hopes that "people will understand and...be fairly kind."
The Florida-born musician formed Against Me! in the late '90s, and the band developed a fan following with the 2002 release Reinventing Axl Rose. They made their major-label debut in 2007 with New Wave, and are scheduled to go on tour with The Cult starting May 31.