PWR BTTM is a queer punk band comprised of Ben Hopkins and Liv Bruce, who met at Bard College in New York. While performing, the duo can be found clad in copious amounts of glitter.

“For me, the most badass thing you can do is to be embarrassing,‰” Ben Hopkins, vocalist and guitarist for PWR BTTM said in an  interview with Paper Mag. This notion is definitely related to the concept of radical self-love. Self-love is increasingly important and powerful in the brutality of the world today.

PWR BTTM‰’s lyrics are infused with liberation imagery. This is best seen in “I Wanna Boi.‰” The main line goes, “I wanna boy who thinks it’s sexy when my lipstick bleeds.‰” These lyrics highlight gender nonconformity in a normalizing manner. Invoking queer activism through music makes it more accessible to a larger audience.

Accessibility and activism do not tend to go hand in hand. Often times, activists employ language that is esoteric, especially to those who have not had the privilege of higher education. While certainly beneficial, radical ideas can often be lofty and inaccessible to those who are not immediately involved in activist communities.

Like true twenty-first century activists, PWR BTTM utilizes twitter to spread their message of queer empowerment. Their “pinned tweet‰” right now is “@PWRBTTMBAND: QUEER IS INVINCIBLE,” which was tweeted on June 12 in response to the Orlando Pulse Nightclub tragedy. Simple statements like that can truly be powerful and work to create an online community of solidarity.

While showing solidarity through social media is not enough on its own, it can still show necessary support. In light of recent racist events on American University‰’s campus, a copy/paste Facebook status of solidarity went viral- “I stand with the students of American University in their battle against discrimination, racism and violence against Black bodies, specifically Black femmes, on their campus and throughout this country. #SolidarityWithOurSisters.‰” While posting a Facebook status does not necessarily change anything, it at least can instill a sense of a community of care.

PWR BTTM also invokes humor to get their message across. Such as this tweet from September 13^th, “@PWRBTTMBAND: Straight boys aren‰’t allowed to talk to me without a permission slip.‰” And also applauds other queer activists, such as this tweet from September 12^th, “@PWRBTTMBAND: RuPaul‰’s politics aren‰’t perfect, but it is fabulous that a drag queen and a POC can win an Emmy award 4 a show about queer performance! YAS!‰” Their messages are #relatable to a wide audience for sure.

Overall, PWR BTTM uses their platform as musicians to draw attention to queer issues and reclaim queer space in music. 10/10 Recommend following @PWRBTTMBAND on twitter!

Catch PWR BTTM in DC at Rock and Roll Hotel November 21.