XG’s Cocona Comes Out as Transmasculine, Nonbinary
“As I reach this new chapter in my life, I want to share something that’s been in my heart for a long time,” the Japanese rapper wrote on Instagram.
XG’s Cocona. Photo by Jurin via Instagram/@xgofficial.
XG’s Cocona has come out as transmasculine and nonbinary.
The 20-year-old Japanese rapper announced the news in a birthday post on the group’s Instagram account.
“Today, I turned 20. As I reach this new chapter in my life, I want to share something that’s been in my heart for a long time,” Cocona said in the statement. “I am AFAB transmasculine non-binary. Earlier this year, I had top surgery.”
Cocona continued, “The hardest thing I’ve ever faced was accepting and embracing myself...Now I can finally say, ‘There is nothing wrong with who I am inside.’”
Cocona proceeded to thank the people who stood by them including their group members, Simon-san (the CEO and main producer behind XG) and their parents.
“May these words gently light a spark in someone’s heart. And to everyone who needs it — may my love reach all of them.”
The announcement was met with an outpouring of support, including from Katseye members Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel and Lara Raj, the latter of whom have previously come out as bisexual and queer, respectively.
Many netizens noted how monumental this announcement is, particularly coming from the global group’s official account. “I never thought I’d see the day a relatively popular, active idol would come out as trans (granted XG isn’t strictly kpop but they’re in the same category),” said one user on Reddit.
“This is so fucking monumental. That too from a group with as much significance as XG. They've been unabashedly queer with their art and it's so cool to get to see such a rarely expressed form queerness (such as trans-masculinity) get platformed this way,” wrote another.
And indeed, Cocona coming out does disrupt one of the most rigid gendered systems in global pop. In an industry that’s built on highly-controlled gender presentation (“girl groups” and “boy groups”), Cocona is directly challenging stict manufactured notions of masculinity and femininity and helping to expand what an idol is “allowed” to be.
Their personal message also shows a shift in how idols assert autonomy and control their own narratives (especially around identity) and provides language, representation and visibility to identities that often exist at the margins.