True Trans Soul Rebel
In 1982, she introduced the hardcore scene—and the world—to bands like Agnostic Front and Beastie Boys. Your introduction to Donna Lee Parsons is long overdue.
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It was on the front page of her personal website that Donna Lee Parsons chose to begin her story with a short vignette about a boy.
“I sit on the sofa in the parlor and ole Dave Ratcage has just gone out the door,” she wrote. “Moments before, I had told him, ‘You were a wonderful boy, but much as I do so love you, David, we just cannot be. There are things that I must do… without you.’ And so he is walking away down the sidewalk hunched over with that walk of his, looking a little downtrodden. It’s true we had lots of fun together. He would buy me clothes, and he really enjoyed it when I got dressed up for him, and he was so loving and appreciative. I watch him go. Soon he will be out of sight and I must watch him until he disappears around th…