Yungblud wants to use his platform to ‘uplift’ trans community: ‘You are real’

Pansexual pop-punk singer Yungblud has spoken about his support for the transgender community, saying that he wants to use his platform to “uplift” trans folk.

Yungblud, born Dominic Harrison, affirmed his support for trans people with the release of his 2020 single “Mars”, which tells the story of closeted trans teen who desperately wants to be herself.

“Mars” was inspired by a real life interaction with one his fans at his 2018 Vans Warped Tour. The fan had informed him that she was trans but her parents weren’t accepting, yet after they attended one of his shows with their daughter, they began to understand and embrace her.

“She told me how her parents had come to the show with her, and how seeing our community helped them to understand that her coming out as trans wasn’t just a phase – this is who she really was,” he explained at the time.

“It made me cry to think that we could have that kind of impact and change people’s perceptions, just by being ourselves.”

The 27-year-old “Zombie” singer went on to use the song as inspiration for his short film of the same name, which starred trans Heartstopper actress Yasmin Finney and Doctor Who actor Pete MacHale.

Mars follows Finney as a trans teenager looking for a sense of place and community in the world.

Speaking to Attitude Magazine recently, Yungblud reaffirmed his support for the trans community, and said that it’s his mission to “make people feel validated”.

He said that “Mars” and the connected short film are “important right now” as trans people face increasing vitriol across both sides of the pond.

“I feel like trans visibility and trans love and trans acceptance needs to be shouted about louder than ever, especially with what’s going on [in the UK] and in America,” he said.

In April, the UK’s Supreme Court ruled that the 2010 Equality Act excludes trans women from its definition of women, while “sex” in the Act is defined as biological sex. In America, Donald Trump’s administration has ramped up its attacks on trans people, by banning trans people from serving in the US military and attempting to curtail gender-affirming care, among other anti-trans provisions.

Yungblud said he wanted to work with “great artists” like Finney and MacHale to “use my community and my platform to uplift an idea that is so deeply important to me”.

He added that he hopes to “make people feel seen and make people feel validated – because you are validated and you are real, and you are seen and you are loved”.

The BRIT Award-nominated musician has also recently opened up about his sexuality, having previously been accused of so-called “queerbaiting”.

He said back in May that he has “f**ked everyone under the sun and that’s the vibe”.

During his chat with Attitude Magazine, he reaffirmed that he is “less insecure” about his pansexuality, explaining that he calls himself “the pan man”.

“I’ve always just loved people. If it was a vibe, it was a vibe,” he said.

Yungblud’s fourth album Idols, which recently topped the UK charts, is out now.

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