14 DAY TRIAL // Chastity Bono, Cher’s only daughter, will be known as Chaz from hereon. Moreover, Chaz has already announced his intention of going forward with the process of gender transitioning from female to male, one that he started earlier this year, his publicist confirms for TMZ.
Shortly after his 40th birthday, Chaz, who caused quite a stir when he came out almost two decades ago, decided he wanted to live his life as a man. Therefore, the lengthy and complicated process of transitioning to man has already been started but, as of now, not many details regarding it have been made available. Equal rights activist and GLAAD in particular have already saluted Chaz’s decision as an extremely courageous act, while also encouraging the media to cover the story without speculating on the process or the “hidden” meaning behind the decision.
“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.” Bono’s publicist, Howard Bragman, tells TMZ.
As noted above, equal rights organizations have welcomed the announcement with nothing but admiration and support. Fans of Bono, who is not only a civil rights advocate, but also a reputed author, musician and journalist, are equally supportive of the decision and wish him all the best. The consensus is that the announcement will both encourage more people in his situation to openly discuss it with others, and build a communication bridge between transgenders and those around them.
“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. 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. 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.” GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano also says in a statement, while urging media to refer to Chaz from now on as to a “he.”