“I’m a toxic New Yorker with panic disorder
Ride the subway without holding on
I kept all my shirts from St. Marks, since before Brownstein’s scars
I spent hours and hours, thinking of oppressors in powers
like when will we be free?
I been preaching since I was a teen
But when you’re queer, there’s no American dream”
These lyrics are from the single from the singer-songwriter and LGBTQ+ activist’s upcoming album Greetings from Echo Park. out June 6. Concerning the tune Cassata states: “I’ve spent a long time searching for the American dream, whatever that is. I think the American dream is designed for the oppressor, and very few oppressed people can actually access it. It’s usually only possible if you’re heteronormative and cis-normative. I think part of me, especially because I came out as trans as a kid, thought that the American dream was being able to fit into the society, being one of them, being in the in-crowd. Now I realize, that I don’t want to be in their in-crowd. Sure, blending in is nice for safety reasons, especially in this political climate. But, really I want to be with my community, the queer community, being flamboyant, being authentic, being free and very, very queer. I don’t want to suppress any part of my queerness or transness for the comfort of the oppressor. The queer American dream for me is being in community with one another, feeling totally authentically me, and getting to experience the queer and trans joy that happens when we come together. I love our community. This song is for us.”
