I wrote this song in 2022 after a particularly troubling nightmare where there were hardly any states that were safe for transfolx (except California). I was desperately trying to leave my current state and terrified of being accosted.
This grew out of the fear, sadness and anger I’ve been feeling for trans kids and their families in states where they are being targeted with hateful and harmful rhetoric, and denied life-saving gender-affirming care.
It details some of my own personal experience transitioning in Jr. High — and as the lyrics state:
“…years later, the same hateful people are now making laws, to keep kids like I was from being true, to themselves to their hearts, what are trans kids ‘sposed to do?“
Official Video
Listen to the audio (Soundcloud)
Listen
Audio Downloads: Bandcamp (direct download), iTunes, Google, Amazon, all major music outlets
Video: YouTube, Facebook
ABOUT
Transgender pop/punk pioneer Lenny Zenith writes and releases a song and video to raise funds for transgender youth and their families in at-risk states.
After a particularly troubling nightmare where there were hardly any states that were safe for transfolx (except California). Lenny dreamt he was desperately trying to leave to a safe a state.
This grew out of the fear, sadness and anger he’s been feeling for trans kids and their families in states where they are being targeted with hateful and harmful rhetoric and laws.
Zenith, who transitioned during adolescence in the South considers the understanding doctors who gave him hope, to have saved his life.
Lenny wrote and produced the song and video with his friend and collaborator James Pertusi and was able to get film and images of loving trans families as well as stock footage for the music video. Lenny will be donating 100% of all proceeds from direct downloads as well as all streams to various organizations fighting these anti-trans laws. People can also donate directly below and email to get an MP3 of the song.
All proceeds from streams and downloads donated to organizations supporting transgender causes and fighting these horrible laws.
See receipts (partial).“Where Is Safe” – Official Trailer
The song is based on my personal experience going to Jr. High as a boy a long time ago and then unfolding to now as detailed in my yet unpublished memoir, “Before I Was Me”. I transitioned at 13 in New Orleans in the 70s!!
Brief promo clip below (1:00)
PRESS
More about me: http://lennyzenith.com/press
Bio: http://lennyzenith.com/about
Media download (hi-res images): https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pytbtoogugnraao/AAA2O6PbV2wONhrgGmJH9Osra?dl=0
WHERE IS SAFE - (lyrics)
Got dressed early, doesn’t look quite right
But it’s what I like to wear
Mom looks worried, dad just smiles
I hope I don’t get too many stares
School bell rings don’t walk too fast
Shuffle past the glare
Keep my head up, words that sting
Try hard not to care
Velour shirt with big long collars
My favorite corduroy
HIgh top vans and my favorite skateboard
Guess I look like a boy
All my life I just wanted hear, was be yourself without any fear
Did the best I could to live my truth
I just wanted to be safe could you — keep me safe, where is safe?
Where is safe? Where is safe?
Got out of high school and tried some college
Made some friends, picked up lots courage
Started a band then I found love
But in the back of my head I knew
I might not be safe, where is safe, could you keep safe, where is safe?
Fifty years later and now I’m old
The same hateful people are now making laws
To keep kids like I was from being true
To themselves to their hearts
What are trans kids ‘supposed to do?
Where is safe, where is safe, could you keep us safe?
Can’t go to Florida, play sports with my friends
Our own private Idaho, where does it end?
Wrote off Alabama, and Texas (not Austin)
But where is, where is —– safe?
Where is safe, can you keep us safe, can you keep us safe.
Where is safe, where is safe
I want to be safe, I want to be safe.
Press
“He’s created a song that trans teens may be able to relate to in ways they never could in other music.
It’s also a direct result of the anti-gender-affirming laws that have begun to crop up in several states. These laws are looking to criminalize affirming care or at least prohibit medical providers from prescribing it.”
I’ll be updating the campaign’s progress and happy to share any/all info.
| Support Trans Youth Alabama |  | ||
| Trevor Project |  | ||
| Campaign For Southern Equality |  | ||
| ACLU Protect Trans Youth |  |
“Zenith was lucky to find gender-affirming care as a kid growing up in New Orleans. But today’s climate, in which over 15 states have launched targeted attacks on trans youth, is somehow even less hospitable. In Alabama, a new bill criminalizes gender-affirming care and the doctors who provide it, following Texas’s lead, a state in which parents who are trying to help their trans kids access care are under threat of investigation for child abuse. In Kansas, it’s now okay for teachers to misgender students in class, and in other states like Florida, Tennessee, and Louisiana, trans and queer kids are facing an intolerant environment in school.”
GUEST SPEAKERS – MAY 27TH – FACEBOOK LIVE
On May 27th, we had a panel with speakers from the trans community.
Facebook’s Live Event feature was lacking and we couldn’t bring them on live, but the video is archived and will be edited as well as the comments.
I was very honored these wonderful people decided to join.
Erin Reed – tracks anti-trans legislation all over the country and run the largest trans healthcare map, an informed consent map listing every informed consent hormone therapy clinic for trans people. She has over 45k Twitter followers that rely on her tenacious updates. https://twitter.com/erininthemorn
Dr. Carole M. Filangieri, Licensed Psychologist who provides gender affirming mental health care and is the mother of a transgender son
Anneliese Singh – Author of The Queer and Trans Resilience Workbook
Professor
and Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Tulane
University whose research explores trans and nonbinary resilience and
liberation, racial healing, and racial justice.
www.anneliesesingh.com
Ashton Santo –LMSW, is a queer transmasculine social worker and public policy advocate. He has worked with professionals across disciplines to implement gender-affirming policies and practices, particularly focusing on mental health and substance use. He also engages in direct practice with gender-expansive individuals, providing low-barrier access to letters of readiness in a time when gender-affirming care is increasingly under threat.
Alejandra Caraballo – is a clinical instructor at the Harvard Law School Cyberlaw Clinic. Their background is in LGBTQ civil rights litigation and direct services. https://twitter.com/Esqueer_