Pet Shop Boys’ “Winner” Video Highlights Transgender Member Of London Rollergirls

Robbie Daw | July 23, 2012 10:13 am

Pet Shop Boys are all about girls in their Surrender Monkeys-directed video for lead Elysium single “Winner” — mainly the London Rollergirls. The visual focuses on Shaolynn Scarlet and her “derby wife” Dirty Diana, who we learn is a rookie member of the team (and who also happens to be transgendered). We see Diana at home, first appearing as a male in her room covered with photos of roller derby girls, then going through the rituals (shaving, stuffing her bra) of losing her masculinity to fit in with the team.

We have to hand it to Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe for skipping the obvious Olympics theme they could have gone with for “Winner” — especially given that Pet Shop Boys are on tap to perform at the games in London in August — and offering up a touching and equality-focused (if not controversial for some) video. That said, neither member of the UK duo appear in the clip.

Elysium is out stateside on September 18. The Boys’ official site notes that “Winner” will be released on iTunes on August 6 in a digital bundle that contains three B-sides, including a cover of Bee Gees‘ “I Started A Joke”.