Arcade Fire releases trans* supportive music video

Andrew Garfield stars in Arcade Fire’s music video for “We Exist” which depicts a trans* woman going through the first (and arguably toughest) steps to becoming the gender she associated with. This video has mixed reviews from trans* individuals. Some feel happy just to have trans* visibility in media, but others feel that the video makes a mockery of the actual transitional steps (why shave the hair?) and should have used an actual trans* individual to play the part — going so far as saying that Garfield’s portrayal was the equivalent to “blackface.” Arcade Fire’s main singer, Win Butler, says that he was inspired to make this video as a response to the strong anti-LGBT culture in Jamaica. “For a gay kid in Jamaica to see the actor who played Spider-Man in that role is pretty damn powerful, in my opinion,” says Win. Garfield was coached by Our Lady J, famous transwoman musician, who stated how proud she was of Garfield’s performance. What do you think?