The Village by Wrabel.
January 6, 2022
The Village by Wrabel is one of the ones that have gotten me through some tough times in my life. The Village is a song that is so empowering to transgender people, especially for younger people. It shows a story of a transgender teen struggling with his identity, and struggling with his family. The music video shows this struggle, but it also shows the struggle of being transgender when laws were being made against transgender people.
The video shows a clip of a tv, with the news turned to when a ban was announced that made it so that transgender people couldn’t serve in the military. At the beginning of the music video, there was a quote shown that resonates with many people because it was inspiring. The quote read: “In nature, a flock will attack any bird that is more colorful than the others because being different is seen as a threat.”
In an article written by Wrabel, the artist, he tells the reasoning behind the song. He first came out as gay when he was 23 to his church. When he refused to accept “reparative therapy,” he, and his first boyfriend, were kicked out of the church. When he heard about the revocation of transgender rights, he recalled when he was on his first tour, two transgender guys, and how this would affect them. He had stayed friends with them, and he knew that he had to do something to let people know that they were supported. He created the song, and it was to be released by October 2017, but as soon as he heard on the news that transgender men and women were banned from the military, he knew that he had to release the song as soon as he could.
“This song is the most important thing to me that I have ever done and probably will ever do. It’s the closest thing to my heart, the singer born Stephen Wrabel told Billboard.”
This song is a highly inspirational song to transgender people. As a trans boy, this song makes me feel amazing about who I am. When I showed this song to my transgender best friend, he resonated with the song so much! From a trans male to the author, I say thank you for making this amazing piece of art. It has helped me, and so many others accept who they are!
Kevin Skye Werner • Jan 19, 2023 at 1:28 pm
Maverick Loveless, is a remarkable young person who I want to lift up in this comment here. I’m so glad that people like Stephen Wrabel write and perform songs like The Villiage, for people like Maverick and myself to find. I know that this was written over a year ago, but hopefully this message can reach those who are able to read this comment, if not Maverick himself. I’m someone who found this song at a different place in my life than Maverick did, rewind 20 years I didn’t have the language, let along artists writing songs that speak to the trans narrative. That is what inspired me, to start writing Stonewall The Musical, to tell the story of the uprising that let us all be here and now. Last concert, one of my songs from my work in progress, was included. Starting this season, I had hoped another one would be, with my best sister from another mister playing Marsha P. Johnson, but not to be then. However, I loved that my new “trans son” felt connected with this song, The Villiage as much as you did. We sing together in the Out Loud Chorus (LGBTQIA+ chorus based in Ann Arbor) that will be performing this weekend. Thank you so much for your contribution Maverick, to the trans narrative.