The Village - Pride Song of the Day - June 12th

“There's something wrong in the village
In the village, oh
They stare in the village
In the village, oh
There's nothing wrong with you
It's true, it's true
There's something wrong with the village
With the village
There's something wrong with the village.”

When President Trump withdrew federal protections for trans-identifying students in public schools in February of 2017, acclaimed gay singer-songwriter, Wrabel, penned the most important song of his career, “The Village” - as an ode the LGBTQ+ community, and even more, as an act of solidarity with trans-identifying persons. 

​Then, when Trump moved to ban all trans-identifying persons from service in all branches of the military in July of 2017, Wrabel pushed to have the song, and its accompanying music video, released - as a further act of solidarity with the trans community in their time of suffering.

The video opens with these words:

“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 interview with Billboard, Wrabel stated, “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. I came out as gay around 23 into a church in Los Angeles that told me I could and should change; that I was unnatural and wrong. I hope this reaches anyone in need of it and makes them feel like they’re not alone.”

The video, starring August Aiden, and the song itself, follow the journey of a young, trans-identifying youth and the shame and rejection experienced among their friends, family, and the broader community.

Nobody gets it.

In a gut-wrenching and visceral fashion, Wrabel takes the listener into the depths of coming out - into the suffocating fears and prejudices that are all too commonly piled upon trans and other queer persons when they open up to share about the deepest, most intimate parts of themselves. 

The shame.

Isolation. 

The confusion and frustration can be unbearable.

The song is "dedicated to all the colorful birds," a leading image throughout the video. As the story resolves, the protagonist, after (literally) fighting their way through the rejection and fears, find that they themselves are, in fact, a radiant, colorful bird. 

Pride says you are a colorful bird - and you are gorgeous.

You are beautiful, lovely, embraced and celebrated as you, in all your glory.

There’s nothing wrong with you.

You are a beautiful ray of light and love.

Pride is also a moment for all of us to step up, to dedicate ourselves to making the world a better, safer and more inclusive space. 

Every home and family, every neighborhood, community, town and city. 

It’s a time for us to rally together around #transrights, and #LGBTQ lives, as they are under intense attack in our time. 

The issue is the village.

So let us dedicate ourselves to building better ones. 

Let us dedicate ourselves to erasing fear, hate, and prejudice. 

And to cultivating villages that are a haven, a refuge for the weary, wounded, and searching among us.

Let us surround those in our lives and in our communities who are exploring and seeking to know and embrace the most intimate and beautiful parts of themselves with a loving and warm embrace, and allow them to discover the 

Gorgeous, colorful bird that they are.

Make sure to watch the deeply moving video for “The Village” below, to get involved and help advocate and make changes in your own community for trans-identifying persons and their rights, and to check out the rest of Wrabel’s remarkable discography - and brand single, “Turn Up The Love” - on your preferred music streaming platform.