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We can learn from Chaz Bono’s transition
When news broke that Chastity Bono, the child of Sonny Bono and Cher, had begun the transition from female to male, my feeling was one of surprise because I had no idea whatsoever that there was any kind of gender identity issues there.
But I feel nothing for support for Chaz Bono – which he is now known as – and hope that through his journey, we can all learn something about transgender people. I’ve said often to friends that it’s gotta be 100 times harder to be transgender than it is to be gay – and it can be really tough to be gay. What you have to go through to become your authentic self is, I would imagine, such a difficult thing and finding support must also be so tough.
Neil G. Giuliano, President of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), released this statement of support: “Chaz Bono‘s decision to live his life authentically represents an important step forward, both for him personally and for all who are committed to advancing discussions about fairness and equality for transgender people,” he said. “Coming out as transgender is an extremely personal decision and one that is never made lightly. We look forward to hearing Chaz’s story in his own words in the future.”
Neil’s statement also touches on media coverage of Chaz’s story and here is another area where we have an opportunity to learn: “GLAAD encourages media outlets to cover this story accurately, and to avoid speculation about the details of Chaz’s story before he is ready to tell it in his own words.”
In case you are wondering why Chaz is already being referred to as “he,” Neil explains: “The GLAAD Media Reference Guide and the Associated Press Stylebook call on media to use the name and pronoun preferred by the transgender person – in this case, referring to him as Chaz and using male pronouns.”
FILE UNDER: Transgendered
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
FortWorthGuy says:
Now a question: when Chastity/Chaz has the operation and becomes a man, what happens to the term we use to refer to her/his partner? Is she still a lesbian? Her partner is now a man, is she now a het?