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Loading ...Chastity Bono announces sex change
06.12.2009 7:45am EDT
(Los Angeles) Chastity Bono is having a sex change to become a man. A spokesman for Bono, born a girl to Sonny and Cher, says he “has made the courageous decision to honor his true identity” and began the sex-change process earlier this year. Publicist Howard Bragman said Bono is proud of his decision and hopes “that his choice to transition will open the hearts and minds of the public regarding this issue.”
The 40-year-old writer, activist and reality-TV star came out as gay 20 years ago, Bragman said.In the book “Family Outing: A Guide to the Coming-Out Process for Gays, Lesbians, & Their Families,” Bono describes the realization of being “somehow different – specifically different from who my mom expected me to be.”
A message left with Cher’s representatives was not immediately returned Thursday.
Bono’s second book, “The End of Innocence: A Memoir,” details how relationships with Joan, a lover, and Sonny and Cher changed after coming out.
In 1995, Bono posed for the cover of the gay magazine The Advocate and began working for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
That is fucking nasty. Good luck sir or madame
Good for him. I wish him well.
AND….
I was in ptown a few summers ago, and I went to a Kate Clinton performance. She was sad about the disappearance of many butch dykes, because she loves them so. Many of the butch dykes now transition to men.
I would like to think that there is a place in the world for butch women and soft men. In the end, though, it’s up to each individual.
Im very proud of Chastity bono !i have been very supportive of her, i applaude her courageousness, to be determined to continue to fight for what she truly believes in !!
I wish him all the best as he journeys to become who he was always meant to be
I wish him all the best in his journey to becoming who he was always meant to be.
Good for him!
I understand that some people will wonder why he didn’t make the change sooner or why he professed to being a lesbian. The fact is, just as sexual identity isn’t always easy to identify or accept, the same is true for gender identity. In fact, it is more so.
In this day and age we are aware of the “symptoms”, for want of a better word, of homosexuality. People recognise that if they start experiencing feelings for members of the same sex they may be homosexual or bisexual. Certainly that’s how I came to the realisation as to my sexuality.
How, though, does someone recognise that they were born in the wrong body? While some people become aware of it sooner, for others it can take years to realise they were born in the wrong body, and longer to find the courage to do something about it.
Chastity – or Chaz, as he’s now calling himself – Bono should be applauded for taking this brave step. It’s hard enough to do when you’re a private person, so much harder when the entire world is watching your every move, thinking they have the right to pass comment or judgement on you.
That is just plain wrong! Be proud the way you were born with between your legs. If you were meant to be born the opposite sex, you would have been born that way. Sex change is wrong!
So does this mean that Chastity (she’s gotta change that name now!) will be a straight man after her innie becomes an outie and no longer identify as a lesbian? I don’t intend to demean her decision — it’s personally monumental — but it does beg the question of whether she was a lesbian to begin with (as she’s claimed). Such a high-profile gender reassignment will surely beg the age-old question of whether masculine (self-acknowledged) lesbians really want to be men and effeminate gay men really want to be women. Not that Chastity has to bear the burden of answering this, but you just know the majority of straight people will be saying “I told you so!” That said, I hope this makes Ms. Bono happy and I salute her courage.
Congrats big time from here in WI.
And as for him doing this now, it take time to come to such a big realization and decision. The change in social & medical climate today is making it possible for older Trans folk to come out with much less prejudice & difficulty than 20 or even 10 years ago. Speaking from experience a lot of us spend time identifying as gay or lesbian before we figure out we are Trans. It seems like many of the older Trans folk found shelter & an approximate solution in belonging to the gay & Lesbian movement. And while this seem to play into stereotypes, he shouldn’t be critiqued for the way he came to this point precisely because it reinforces those & other stereotypes by making it seem like a defection instead of a personal evolution. Besides there are plenty of Transwomen, with several serving as great role-models like Lynn Conway -computer science engineer whose work is responsible for much of the electronics advances we use today- and Kate Bornstein -wonderful author & noted activist. They gave up male power & privilege, took on the stigma coming from men and women, and still became immensely successful.
she wrote a memoir of being a lesbian. Why didn’t she just do this to begin with? Why are strong butch lesbians tainting their strength with a need to be male? Lynne Breedlove? Chastity?
Is her memior a lie now? How is the community of followers to accept this with Chastity as a strong female role model?
I’m glad they are at peace, but these things just set the movement back. Her poor vagina.
Congrats on making such a monumental decision! I hope that you find much joy and peace as you transition, and afterward!
Wow. This is something I will personally never understand. I am proud to be a woman in love with a woman. Yet, after saying that, God bless him! If this is what he needs to be “complete,” then I wish him all the best. I am so impressed with his strength and courage, because this will not be “easy” (as the child of CHER!).
woohoo! Good for him, I hope he has a happy life!
What took him so long? Congrats!
Good for him!
Best of luck for him and his family!
Much LOVE from CT!