Sasha Allen’s New Single: Forgiveness & Catholic Acceptance

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Sasha Allen‘s Anthem of Forgiveness: Bridging Divides Through Music and Faith

Published: April 5, 2025

By Archyde News

In March 2021, Sasha Allen, a trans singer-songwriter, released “When I Forgive You,” a powerful song that challenges listeners to reconsider their perspectives on transgender individuals. Originally intending to pen an “eff-off” anthem, Allen instead crafted a nuanced reflection on religious transphobia, exploring themes of forgiveness and understanding.

The song,released independently,envisions a scenario were religious figures reassess their beliefs about transgender people “at the pearly gates,” prompting a critical examination of the intense animosity often fueled by these beliefs. Allen, then 23, captured a raw nerve with lyrics that resonate with both vulnerability and resilience.

“I find it strange to hold such hatred for a stranger,” Allen sings, his voice accompanied by the simple yet evocative sounds of acoustic guitar and harmonica. This line sets the stage for a deeper exploration of empathy, as the lyrics pivot to address the negativity head-on: “You’ll find it strange when I hold kindness to your anger. I find it strange, this shape you mold me into. You’ll find it strange when I forgive you.”

The genesis of the song coincided with a notably charged moment in American politics. Allen shared a preview with his 1.5 million TikTok followers shortly after President Donald Trump’s inauguration and the issuance of an executive order that defined sex as binary and immutable. This context amplified the song’s message, turning it into a poignant reminder of the shared humanity of transgender people.

“I’m not an act of revolution that you’re watching on the news. I bet you’d like me if we talked. I bet you wouldn’t have a clue,” Allen proclaims in the single, underscoring the importance of personal connection and dialogue in overcoming prejudice.

A Grandmother’s Love: A Foundation of Acceptance

Adding a deeply personal dimension to the song, Allen references his devout Catholic grandmother. He explained that while he might have expected resistance or confusion upon coming out as a teenager, he was met with unwavering support. “She’s bragging to her friends how great her grandson is,” Allen proudly states, illustrating the transformative power of familial love and acceptance.

This experience, coupled with the overwhelmingly positive reception he and his father received on “The Voice” in 2021 – where they reached the semi-finals – solidified Allen’s belief in the power of relationships to combat transphobia. “It’s a show that’s really heavily viewed in middle America and places where people don’t love trans people or people voted for Trump,” allen shared. “I had kids reach out to me that were like, ‘seeing your story gave my parents a perspective of a trans person that they had never seen, and they’re accepting me for the first time.’”

Diving Deeper: faith, forgiveness, and the Path Forward

In an interview conducted shortly before the release of “When I Forgive You,” Allen discussed his evolving relationship with religion, the potential for personal growth, and the sources of joy in his life.

Growing Up Spiritual: Allen described a non-religious upbringing, noting that while his parents were spiritual, they didn’t adhere to any specific doctrine. this allowed him to discover his own connection with God and spirituality in his twenties, finding “a lot of peace and a lot of joy in it.”

The Impact of Acceptance: allen emphasized the profound meaning of his grandmother’s unconditional acceptance.”She has a beautiful faith and belief in God and has wholeheartedly and always accepted me and others and did not even have to consider it for a moment. She always just accepted me exactly for who I am.” He recounted an instance where his grandmother’s elderly Catholic book club read a book about a trans person, showcasing their willingness to learn and understand.

Optimism Despite Challenges: While acknowledging the pervasiveness of transphobia, Allen remains optimistic about the potential for change through conversation and understanding. “I’ve seen firsthand that people’s minds can be changed, but it’s unfeasible if you don’t open up and talk to a trans person and listen to a trans person and realize that, like, trans people are all over the place with different views and personalities and opinions, and we don’t all think the same. We’re really just trying to live a normal life and experience joy.”

Allen expressed frustration with the lack of understanding and the unwillingness of some individuals to engage in meaningful dialogue. He stated, “It literally makes me wanna bang my head against the wall because it’s so frustrating seeing such a lack of understanding from people who have not even opened themselves.”

The Courage to Connect: When asked about the challenges of engaging with those who don’t accept transgender people, allen emphasized the need for exposure and representation.”I’m someone who would jump at the opportunity to be on Fox News or some sort of right-wing network where I could just speak and be seen as a trans person, not even in a sort of debate way.” He acknowledged that this perspective developed over time,after grappling with anger and feelings of rejection. Social media, despite its drawbacks, has also played a role in desensitizing him to transphobia, allowing him to see it as a product of ignorance rather than malice.

Allen poignantly described the dehumanization faced by transgender individuals, noting, “People group trans people in the same group that they put pedophiles in.People really, really hate us.” Overcoming this requires resilience and a persistent desire to be seen and understood: “It takes a lot of being fed up and a lot of frustration to be like, ‘Oh my God, just talk to me, just see me.'”

The Essence of Forgiveness

Allen clarified the meaning of forgiveness within the context of his song,emphasizing its crucial role in overcoming societal divisions and negativity. “I think of how bad things are right now and how bad things feel when you watch the news and the policies and the (Trump) governance. And there is so much beauty on the other side of that if we overcome it and so much light that we can find and joy for trans people and so much acceptance. If we do forgive, if someone is transphobic and they open themselves up and come around to it, of course I would never hold it against them.”

Forgiveness, in Allen’s view, is essential for progress.He states, “Ultimately, you need forgiveness to get past things 100%. As if you’re asking people to understand and open their mind and change their views, you need to be able to forgive them and to see them like they’re seeing you.”

Finding Joy and Purpose

Allen finds strength and comfort in his faith, expressing gratitude for his platform and artistic abilities. “With releasing this song,I feel like I’m in a place where I’m really thankful to God for my platform and my voice and my ability to write and play music,so I can express myself — as I really,really do believe God made me trans and made me trans for a reason and made me trans so I could have a voice and reach other trans people,specifically those that are hurting or feel unaccepted.I feel a lot of joy in the fact that I’m gonna be able to reach a lot of people with it and maybe impact a few people.”

how does the song “When I Forgive You” contribute to the discussion on transphobia and acceptance within religious contexts?

Elias Vance on Sasha Allen’s “When I Forgive You”: A Discussion on faith, Acceptance, and Forgiveness

Published: April 5, 2025

By Archyde News

Archyde News: Welcome, Elias. Thank you for joining us today. We’re eager to discuss Sasha Allen’s powerful song, “When I forgive You,” And your insights on the anthem’s message of forgiveness.

Elias Vance: Thank you for having me. It’s a necessary conversation, and I’m happy to be a part of it.

The Song’s Impact and Message

archyde News: The song came out in March 2021,what were your initial thoughts when you first heard “When I Forgive You”?

Elias Vance: Honestly,I was struck by its rawness and vulnerability.Allen’s words are so direct, yet they resonate with a deep understanding of the struggles faced by transgender individuals, especially within religious contexts. It’s a call for empathy, which is quite powerful.

Archyde News: The lyrics address both vulnerability and resilience. How do you perceive the role of forgiveness in Allen’s message and what did it do to the message?

Elias Vance: Forgiveness is key. Allen isn’t just seeking acceptance; he’s actively challenging the roots of transphobia. By extending forgiveness, there’s a potential door opened for dialog and understanding. This is vital, because it calls for something better than resentment.

Faith, Family, and Change

Archyde News: Allen mentions his grandmother’s unconditional support as a foundation. How does this familial acceptance contribute to the song’s message?

Elias Vance: his grandmother’s acceptance is a beacon of hope. it highlights that love and understanding can triumph over prejudice, even within deeply rooted traditions. It shows how small the divide can be.

Archyde News: The song was released during a charged political time. How did the context of the song’s release amplify its impact?

Elias Vance: The timing was crucial. With the sociopolitical climate being what it was, the song provided a timely reminder of the shared humanity of trans people, despite the political climate. Allen’s words offered a moment of reflection during intense times.

Looking Forward: Bridging Divides

Archyde news: from Allen’s expressed opinions what are the most significant challenges to overcome transphobia?

Elias Vance: A lack of awareness and unwillingness to engage in dialogue are huge obstacles. However, with people like Allen stepping forward, we can push against it.

Archyde News: Media representation is crucial for the exposure of transgender individuals, what do you think could be the key to bridging the division?

Elias Vance: It truly seems to be as simple as actually talking to trans people, listening to them, and understanding that they deal with a huge amount of hostility.The hope is that this, over time, can change hearts and minds. The more people who hear different stories and perspectives,the more understanding we’ll see. It’s about creating the chance to see past the rhetoric and connect on a human level.

Archyde news: considering everything we’ve discussed, what do you hope listeners take away from “When I Forgive You”? What kind of dialogue would you like to be created from the work?

Elias Vance: I hope listeners are inspired to examine their own biases and consider their relationship with those who are different. It’s about encouraging empathy and understanding instead of dismissal. “When I Forgive You” can be a starting point for many. Maybe by creating conversation across different backgrounds, we can all find common ground and grow past hate.

Archyde News: Elias,thank you for your time and valuable insights. It’s been enlightening.

Elias Vance: Thank you for having me.