OT-Chastiy Bono becoming male
Posted:
Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:18 pmby Angiekay
(CNN) -- Chastity Bono, gay-rights activist and child of performer Cher and the late entertainer and politician Sonny Bono, is in the early stages of transitioning from a female to a male and will be known as Chaz, his spokesman said Thursday.
Activist Chastity Bono is transitioning from female to male and will be known as Chaz.
1 of 2 more photos » "Chaz, after many years of consideration, has made the courageous decision to honor his true identity," Howard Bragman said in a written statement.
"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."
Someone's decision to transition does not necessarily mean they are undergoing gender reassignment surgery, and in many cases they do not, said Mara Keisling, executive director of the Washington-based National Center for Transgender Equality.
"The whole media fixation on surgery is kind of misplaced," she said. "Almost no transgender people ever have surgery. We don't have any idea how many do." iReport.com: Do you have a transgender story?
An estimated one-quarter to one-half percent of the American population is transsexual, however, Keisling said. "It's sort of a general term that encompasses both or either a social transition or a medical transition."
Keisling said she was unaware of the specifics in Bono's case, but speaking generally, a transition means that he will now want to be "known, seen, viewed" as a male.
"The actual details depend on his needs and wants and his doctor's needs and wants," she said.
Bragman asked that the media "respect Chaz's privacy during this long process, as he will not be doing any interviews at this time."
Now 40, Bono as a little girl made regular appearances on her parents' show, "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour." As an adult, he has been a longtime gay-rights advocate and been closely associated with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. See more photos from Chastity Bono's life »
Bono's father, Sonny Bono, was a U.S. representative from California when he was killed in a skiing accident in January 1998.
Posted:
Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:27 pmby stevew2
i guess she will always have a "Bono" get it?
Posted:
Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:23 pmby Arkansas
And why is this important?
Doesn't everyone want to be something they are not?
And honestly, why does the world need more men?
There are enough of us...the real type.
later~
Posted:
Fri Jun 12, 2009 5:44 pmby Shadowsong
I believe that everyone has the right to be who they want to be.
Good thing her Dad is not here to see it as I don't think he'd understand but her Mom I'm sure will support her daughter/son anyway she can.
Posted:
Fri Jun 12, 2009 6:48 pmby steveo777
This was even newsworthy?
Posted:
Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:57 pmby JasonD
Posted:
Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:34 pmby portland
Jason - you seem to provide much needed comic releif that can be sooooo necessary here
Posted:
Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:59 pmby Rhiannon
So, since she's a lesbian... once she gets the sex change won't that make her girlfriend straight?
Posted:
Sat Jun 13, 2009 12:12 amby RedWingFan
She's going to undergo an "adadictome"?
Posted:
Sat Jun 13, 2009 12:21 amby bluejeangirl76
I haven't read anything about her actually having the surgery (and most transgenders don't...) but if she wants to live in men's clothes... whatever. Doesn't affect me. Her responsibility to herself is to enjoy life and make herself happy, same as the rest of us. That's all ya need. Do what you need to do for yourself and for your own happiness.
Posted:
Sat Jun 13, 2009 12:46 amby Rip Rokken
A decision like that takes a lot of (insert noun here). Who wants to donate their pair to her?
Posted:
Sat Jun 13, 2009 1:31 amby nolippin
Gives a whole new meaning to organ donation.
Rip Rokken wrote:A decision like that takes a lot of (insert noun here). Who wants to donate their pair to her?
Posted:
Sat Jun 13, 2009 2:10 amby NealIsGod
Rhiannon wrote:So, since she's a lesbian... once she gets the sex change won't that make her girlfriend straight?
It's like on South Park when Mr. Garrison became a woman and Slave lost interest. Maybe she didn't think this thing through?
Posted:
Sat Jun 13, 2009 2:17 amby G.I.Jim
Now if Dan and Stevew2 would just complete THEIR transformations!
Posted:
Sat Jun 13, 2009 2:36 amby NealIsGod
Why can't she just wear a backwards baseball cap and scratch her crotch?
Posted:
Sat Jun 13, 2009 2:49 amby stevew2
Tito wrote:WEIRDO!
For once I agree with you numbnuts
Posted:
Sat Jun 13, 2009 2:54 amby stevew2
G.I.Jim wrote:Now if Dan and Stevew2 would just complete THEIR transformations!
I cant speak for Dan Sarge, but I like my "gear" right where it is.When I need to piss,I just flop it it out ,and reel it in when im done. I dont have to sit down like Tito and Lenoard
Posted:
Sat Jun 13, 2009 3:17 amby Jana
Whatever makes her happy. She's a nice person.
Posted:
Sat Jun 13, 2009 3:45 amby jrnyman28
I couldn't care less. But it feels odd to already be referring to "Chaz" as "he" when "we" are just hearing about this....
Posted:
Sat Jun 13, 2009 3:45 amby The Sushi Hunter
NealIsGod wrote:Why can't she just wear a backwards baseball cap and scratch her crotch?
Also if she wants to be a man so badly, she should also get a male pattern balding head going on. Why hasn't any of these women who want to be men done that part, if in fact they feel that they are actually a man? Oh I guess they didn't want that part of the package. If a chick did that, I could find it a little bit easier to be convinced that she actually wants to be a dude.
So whatever happened to just excepting what you were born as and making the best of it? There was a study held some years ago which found that the people who get sex changes most times then not regret it and/or are not satified with their new hardware and wish that they could change it back. Most lose the ability to have an orgasm because of the reconstruction surgeries. In her case, she will realize that she had more pleasure having her female genitals. Besides high rate of depression which follows, there are also high rates of suicide. She should review the world's lessons learned and take a look at MJ, the world's poster child for "I wish I would have accepted the way I was born instead."
Seriously, she will always be a famale regardless of what aftermarket parts she gets fitted with.
Posted:
Sat Jun 13, 2009 4:06 amby Peartree12249
I guess I feel very sorry for people who are so unhappy with their gender that they would go to such lengths to change it. The amount of money, abuse, pychological and physical pain these people go through both before and after is amazing. How sad.
Posted:
Sat Jun 13, 2009 4:13 amby JasonD
Posted:
Sat Jun 13, 2009 4:15 amby Jana
Peartree12249 wrote:I guess I feel very sorry for people who are so unhappy with their gender that they would go to such lengths to change it. The amount of money, abuse, pychological and physical pain these people go through both before and after is amazing. How sad.
20/20 or one of those shows did a show on children who feel this way. It was so eye-opening and heartbreaking. The parents' anguish and love for their children and only wanting their happiness was very moving. Most of these people like Chastity have felt this way since they were very young but only now can be more open. What was interesting was how the parents helped their children live like they wanted to live once they realized how tortured they were living as the gender they were born with. Suicide and depression for these children is very high. All the parents tried everything to fix them and for them to dress and live as the gender they were born with until they saw the depths of depression they went through. But puberty is very hard b/c then decisions have to be made re hormones. Very informative show and taught you a lot about acceptance of and compassion for those different than you.
Posted:
Sat Jun 13, 2009 4:18 amby NealIsGod
Damn FF, wasn't "she" on King of Queens?
Thank You Jason 
