Chastity Bono, civil rights advocate, journalist, author, musician, and the daughter of Cher and Sonny Bono, is in the early stages of changing her gender.
She will be transitioning from female to male, having already started the sex change process earlier this year, shortly after celebrating her 40th birthday.
Known to family and friends as Chaz, Chastity Bono came out as a lesbian two decades ago. Now she's undergoing bold, gender reassignment treatment.
The star's publicist, Howard Bragman, confirmed the news and issued the following statement, already referring to Chastity Bono with a different pronoun:
"Yes, it's true. Chaz, after many years of consideration, has made the courageous decision to honor his true identity. He is proud of his decision and grateful for the support and respect that has already been shown by his loved ones."
"It is Chaz's hope that his choice to transition will open the hearts and minds of the public regarding this issue, just as his 'coming out' did nearly 20 years ago."
"We ask that the media respect Chaz's privacy during this long process as he will not be doing any interviews at this time."
Bragman declined to answer specific questions about the sex change process, which typically involves hormone therapy, and sometimes - but not always - surgery.
Here's wishing Chaz nothing the best in this endeavor.
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8 Comments
June 11th, 2009 6:48 PM
Good for you,and be true to yourself. I hope you will be very happy.
June 11th, 2009 9:31 PM
More power to her/now him. Who on God's green earth are we to judge?
June 12th, 2009 4:50 AM
Only in America.
June 12th, 2009 12:01 PM
I'm very happy for Chaz :)
June 13th, 2009 1:24 AM
Still in 2009 it takes a tremendous amount of courage for gays/bi/and Transgender people to live who they are. Small minded societal conditioning has only led up a bit, evidenced by that 88 year old neo nazi of yesterday's news. Chaz is the ONLY one who can live his life. He must be able to live it freely and on his terms with complete allowance and acceptance by all including his Mom, Cher who evidently is have a very difficult time with Chaz's decision. All the power to you Chaz. And all the Best. We love you and support you.
June 15th, 2009 10:33 AM
Still in 2009 it takes a tremendous amount of courage for gays/bi/and Transgender people to live who they are. Small minded societal conditioning has only led up a bit, evidenced by that 88 year old neo nazi of yesterday's news. Chaz is the ONLY one who can live his life. He must be able to live it freely and on his terms with complete allowance and acceptance by all including his Mom, Cher who evidently is have a very difficult time with Chaz's decision. All the power to you Chaz. And all the Best. We love you and support you.
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Where does that line of "complete acceptance by all" stop?
We don't accept a lot of behaviors in people. do we accept the behavior of a child who is clearly gearing up to blow up a school? when you see him becoming more and more anti-social, angry, resenting authority and expressing it and increasingly aggressive ways? Do YOU stand back and say "hey, who are we to judge" until he finally hurts people?
I don't have to accept her decision or who she is, anymore than she has to respect my opinion about her decision and my opinion of who/what she is.
June 17th, 2009 3:58 PM
kool. is that what she looked like b4 or now?
November 8th, 2009 8:04 PM
I mean no disrespect, but Chaz is going to be a WOMAN till the day SHE dies. it does not matter if she buys herself a penis, cuts out her uterus and ovaries, and hacks off her breasts. She is still going to be a woman. We all need to be happy with what we are, or we end up like this poor woman mutilating ourselves. Weather it be through cutting, anorexia, alcohol, drug, or hacking off our sexual organs. SHE is sick and I feel sorry for her. We can only pray that cutting herself up will bring her the peace she seeks. Somehow I doubt it will.