Every March 31, Trans Visibility Day is celebrated, a date to claim the existence of this group and fight against the discrimination it suffers daily around the world, because, as rightly said by journalist and writer Valeria Vegas : “What we don’t talk about, doesn’t exist. And what doesn’t exist, is marginalized.”
For this reason, from LOS40 we want highlight the work and, ultimately, the success of two artists in the field that concerns us: music. Two referents who carry their gender identity as a flag and who have managed to gain recognition on both sides of the Atlantic, both in English and Spanish. They are Kim Petras and Villano Antillano, the artists who broke the roof for trans women with the help of pop and trap, respectively.
Each presents two very different realities: the first because she was quickly accepted and supported by her family as she is; the second, because he had to become, by force, a symbol of resistance in his own country, his homeland. However, they share the same objective: to be the mirror of future generations.
the first Grammy
The story of Kim Petras seems simple to tell. She was born in Cologne, Germany on August 27, 1992. From an early age, she experienced gender dysphoria, so much so that her parents always saw her as a girl, and supported her in her life. transition. At 16, she underwent gender reassignment surgery, a procedure which “I was asked if I felt like a woman now, but the truth is I’ve always felt like a woman, I just found in the wrong body.”
Her artistic background – choreographer mother, singer sister and architect father – led Petras to pursue her dream of being a singer. From I don’t want it at all A brrr (his first and last single), He has released two albums, two EPs and several collaborations, among which, Impious, the song with which he broke one of the barriers for the trans community.
Thanks to Impious, Kim Petras and Sam Smith won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Song by a Duo or Group on February 6 during the delivery ceremony. Thus, the artist has become the first trans woman to win a golden gramophone.
During her acceptance speech, the German wanted to take the opportunity to say a few words to the “incredible transgender legends” who came before her, like Sophie, another inspiring, innovative and pioneering trans woman in a musical genre as experimental as hyperpop. “To those who kicked down doors for me to be there tonight: Sophie, especially my friend who passed away two years ago and assured me this would happen and always believed in me. Thank you for the inspiration , Sophie. I adore you and your inspiration will always be in my music,” the artist continued.
Worldwide recognition
And from Germany we crossed the pond to Puerto Rico to focus on West Indian villain and all that surrounds him. She was born on March 27, 1995, and for her, creating her art project provided an escape and a symbol of resilience, around the planet and not just in her native country. “Puerto Rico is my home. I live badly, I survive, I fight, I resist. Puerto Rico has been resisting since I can remember,” he told us during his visit to our studios in October 2022.
Through his music and his trap, La Villana found a refuge and a speaker to stir consciences and disturb the predominant white cis-heteronormativity in society.
And, thanks to his irreverence and the support of other personalities such as Bad Bunny and Bizarrapthe Puerto Rican made history as the first trans woman to become world No. 1 on digital platforms, such as Spotify, with her Bzrp Music Sessions #52 in July 2022.