Lucas Silveira

For the Brazilian singer for the band Fresno, see Lucas Silveira (Brazilian singer).

Lucas Silveira
Background information
Birth name	Lucas Silveira
Born	July 30, 1974 (1974-07-30)
Origin	Toronto, Canada,
Genres	Rock, Folk
Occupations	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals Acoustic guitar
Years active	2007-present
Labels	Silver Label Patriot Tommy Boy Entertainment
Associated acts	David Bowie
Website	[1]

Lucas Silveira is the Canadian vocalist/guitarist and songwriter for the rock band The Cliks. He has recently released his first solo effort "MOCKINGBIRD" since founding The Cliks and is currently touring the US and Canada promoting it.

Silveira is a transgender man. The Cliks made history as the first band with an overtly transgender male leader signed by a major record label, Tommy Boy Entertainment’s gay-friendly imprint Silver Label.

Early life

Born in Canada to a musical Portuguese-Canadian family, he lived from the age of four to the age of ten on Pico Island, part of the Azorean archipelago (an autonomous region of Portugal). At age ten, Lucas’ working-class, family moved back to the suburbs of Toronto and enthusiastically supported his fervor for music.

He was about three when "I knew exactly who I was at that age, which sucked, not having words for it and being told I was something else." He knew he was a boy and asked his mother to buy him a penis like his brothers. His mother told him that was "ridiculous", but his yearning for a penis never went away. He suppressed his feelings about his identity and tried to make it go away. He spent years telling himself that he had mental problems and that he needed to get help. He didn't talk to anyone about it. He said, "Then when he was in my middle teens, the first time I heard about Transgender people, or even the word "transgender" was on Geraldo Rivera. I remember seeing this guy with a beard, and they were like, "This man was born a woman!" I was like, "Holy shit! That's me." Then he heard about the murdered transman, Brandon Teena and was "completely and utterly horrified". At 17, he then decided to come out and live as a lesbian, as a safer alternative.

Living as a Transman

AfterEllen.com, is a website that focuses on the portrayal of lesbian and bisexual women in the media. In their interview with Silveira, they asked: "Do you find yourself having to educate people about transgender issues all the time?" Silveira replied ": I wouldn't say educate. It's more like trying to explain where I'm coming from, because a lot of people are just curious about what it means. If people want to ask me about myself, I got no issue with that. I think it's important to just be who you are, and if you have the capacity to do it, then do it, because it really helps people. I've had kids come up to me at shows and it blows my mind, they just open themselves up to me. I had this kid came up to me and told me that he identified as transgender. He said to me, "You're my hero. If it wasn't for you, I'd feel like a freak." I'm not the poster boy for anything, but it sure makes me feel a certain type of validity, and happy at the choice I've made in my life to be out there and be who I am. Because it's obviously making a difference to a couple of people. So I'm very happy to talk about it. It's not a burden or anything like that. I am very happy.

The transition

After realizing he could not, in truth, live his life as a lesbian, he decided to take undergo top surgery to be his true self. A mistaken belief is that "all" top surgery encompasses is a double mastectomy, but in reality, it is a much more complicated surgery. Using part of the breast tissue that has been removed, a male chest is constructed that looks natural and is socially acceptable to go shirtless. He said it makes him feel "grounded." Although Silveira first chose not to take testosterone because of all the negative effects it could have on his singing voice, he decided to begin hormone therapy in Summer/Fall 2010, and he has documented his changing voice on YouTube.

Career

Lucas Silveira's revolution began with a fearless attitude that embraced radical change. Lucas founded The Cliks in 2004 when his musical and self identity transitioned from being a solitary folk singer/songwriter lesbian, to an 'over the top' rock n' roll front man. This shift reflected a vision he had carried his entire life and had now found the courage to make significant life changes and create a vehicle for the music in his head.

After six years, two major record label releases (Snakehouse 2006/Dirty King 2009), became international successes, many line up changes, major tours (True Colors 2007/2008, The Cult 2007/2008), TV appearances, awards MTV Logo New Now Next Artist On The Brink, Chart Attack Pole 2009, and the Sexiest Man In Canada. He has broken entrenched societal boundaries, and garnered praise from his musical peers, Cyndi Lauper, Margaret Cho, and The Cult's Ian Astbury. It soon became obvious that the only constant in The Cliks was Lucas. His courageous attitude, rock star energy and progressive approach to self-determination have created an ever changing musical identity that encourages all outsiders to feel a sense of connection, belonging and mutual respect between audience and performer.

Not phased by life's passages and skirmishes, Lucas has plunged ahead by continuing to fulfill his vision of The Cliks. Now traveling with a variety of guest performers, Lucas leads The Cliks' with the kind of attitude, toughness and unfettered energy that has been compared to Green Day's Billie Joe, Joan Jett and Chrissie Hinde of The Pretenders.

Silveira has also been interviewed by the Boston Globe, as well as many radio stations, quickly becoming one of the most visible transgender people in the music industry. He also appeared in a 2008 episode of LA Ink, getting a tattoo that reminded him of whom he is now. Having chosen a different path, he says he is celebrating "going from a struggle to being really happy with who I am."