'My thoughts were clear, my words clearly were not': Paul Stanley walks back statement on gender transitions for children

Kiss front man Paul Stanley followed up his recent statements about parents pushing children into gender transition surgeries by remarking that his words "clearly were not" clear and that he firmly supports those struggling with sexual identity.

As reported by TimCast, the rock star's pivot comes just four days after his April 30, 2023, online post criticizing parents who push their children into gender transition surgeries too easily and attempt to normalize the act.

"There is a big difference between teaching acceptance and normalizing and even encouraging participation in a lifestyle that confuses young children," Stanley said.

The musician changed his tune in his May 4, 2023, comments, saying “While my thoughts were clear, my words clearly were not. Most importantly and above all else, I support those struggling with their sexual identity while enduring constant hostility and those whose path leads them to reassignment surgery," he explained.

“It’s hard to fathom the kind of conviction that one must feel to take those steps. A paragraph or two will remain far too short to fully convey my thoughts or point of view so I will leave that for another time and place," Stanley concluded.

Stanley's original commentary had garnered support from another politically-outspoken rocker: Dee Snider from the band Twisted Sister.

Snider responded to Stanley's post by saying, "You know what? There was a time where I 'felt pretty' too. Glad my parents didn't jump to any rash conclusions! Well said."

However, that short statement landed Snider in hot water with the San Francisco Pride organization, which announced it would no longer be using Snider's hit song "We're Not Gonna Take It" as its theme song.

"When we were notified about the tweet in which Dee expressed support for Kiss's Paul Stanley's transphobic statement, we were heartbroken and angry. The message perpetuated by that tweet casts doubt on young trans people's ability to self-identify their gender," the gender activists wrote in a statement.

Conservative commentator Matt Walsh criticized the Kiss band member's new words, calling him a "coward" and "pathetic."

"To hell with cowards who can't stand firmly by the truth. This dude is 70 years old and rich. What does he have to lose exactly? Pathetic," Walsh wrote.

Singer Five Times August also noted that it took just days for his prediction that Stanley would backtrack to come true. "More likely they will backtrack and apologize in a few days," he said on May 2, 2023. "Yep. I called it too," he wrote on May 4.

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