Chastity Bono, Madonna | 06/12/2009 8:55 am

Sonny and Cher's Daughter, Chastity Bono, to Become a Man

Forty-year-old gay-rights activist is now known as ‘Chaz,’ but how will mom take the news? In other news, Madonna gets to bring adopted daughter home from Malawi.

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Chastity Bono/Image: Flickr

Chastity Bono will soon be known as "Chaz." The 40-year-old daughter of renowned entertainment couple Sonny and Cher is transitioning from female to male.

The gay-rights activist, who announced she was a lesbian 20 years ago, is now being referred to by publicists as "he." A spokesman said Chaz will have gender reassignment surgery.

"Chaz, after many years of consideration, has made the courageous decision to honor his true identity," publicist Howard Bragman said in a 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."

About one-quarter to one-half percent of the American population is transsexual, and surgery isn’t always pursued. Transgender activists hope Chaz’s public transition will help raise awareness and eliminate stigmas about gender identity. Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, told The Miami Herald that it’s important for the public to see "that real people are transgender people, that it can be somebody’s son or daughter or somebody’s neighbor. And when that person is high profile, people pay more attention."

In other celebrity news today, Madonna is going to be a mom — again. The pop star was awarded the right to adopt Chifundo "Mercy" James, a three-year-old girl from Malawi.

"She was ecstatic when I broke the news to her. She said, ‘Thank heavens,’" Madonna’s lawyer told People.

123 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

I remember being very surprised years ago when Chasity and Cher talked about how hard it was for Cher to deal with Chasity being gay. It sort of shocked me that Cher of all people would be so provencial about it. Just didn’t fit with my image of her.

But good for Chasity. Hope she’s healthy and happy.

By Chrome Toe on 06/12/2009 9:10 am

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I remember being surprised also, Chrome Toe, when Cher had a problem dealing with Chasity being gay — but, you know, I think all of us want to shield our children from hurt and there’s no doubt that someone who is gay has a tougher road in our society. Happily that is changing. I can’t imagine what it must be like to feel like you were a man in a woman’s body — I take girly, girly to new heights sometimes. =) I so enjoy my granddaughter because she is a "mini-me" of my daughter……I think it would be hard to suddenly have your daughter become your son?

By MK P on 06/12/2009 9:18 am

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Hopefully, Chasity will finally accept herself. Although I support anyones right to have whatever elective surgery that they choose, as a taxpayer…I will never support funding for this type of proceedure.

If one is born with both genitalia, then it is obviously a medical condition that qualifies as a needed proceedure.

However, I will always consider her a "she"…because she is.

By Kelly In Texas on 06/13/2009 11:27 am

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I hope Chaz will be happy:) I am sure Cher will lover Chaz no matter what:)

I also wish Maddona well with her new daughter. One more child saved from poverty:)

By S G on 06/12/2009 9:13 am

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Gees Typo Cher will love Chaz no matter what. Also Chrome Toe Cher had said she wanted grandchildren and Chaz said hey I can adopt:) LOL

By S G on 06/12/2009 9:17 am

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My heart has always gone out to Chastity Bono. She has never been satisfied with her own identity. She was not fortunate enough to inherit her mom’s remarable good looks or figure and she was the lost little girl of two parents who could have done a lot better in the marriage they had. It never fails to impress me that the song "I Got You Babe" actually is a summation of what it takes to have a strong lasting relationship. It was difficult to watch the Sonny and Cher sing their "anthem" in the last appearance they had together on the David Letterman Show. While it brought back a host of nostalgic and warm memories it also invited the question of what could have/should have been. I’m not sure this sex change operation is really going to change much of anything that truly matters to and for Chastity Bono

By Mary Utrup on 06/12/2009 9:23 am

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Good point, Mary. Maybe she just is not comfortable in her own skin for a lot of reasons and is trying to become someone else. It must be hard to be the plain daughter of a famous, gorgeous mother. And then to get lost in the shuffle of all those marriages and relationships (of both parents) on top of that.

I totally do not understand this but, as my mother used to say, I don’t have to answer for her. I hope she is doing the right thing for her, and wish her well, but I don’t know….

By Deena B. on 06/12/2009 12:52 pm

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I have to strongly disagree with you Mary when you wrote…

She was not fortunate enough to inherit her mom’s remarable good looks or figure and she was the lost little girl of two parents who could have done a lot better in the marriage they had

If she was hotter than Cher it would not have changed her decision to transition. Very handsome men and Very beautiful women transition to the sex they feel they are. Trans people are born that way just as I was born Lesbian. That can no more be changed then the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.

By Rebecca G on 06/13/2009 1:02 am

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I agree that her sexual orientation would likely be the same even if she was "hotter than Cher" and had a more solid family life. But I’m less sure about the transition. You may be right, though. I just don’t know. At any rate, I wish her well.

By Deena B. on 06/13/2009 9:58 am

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I cannot imagine the torture of living forty long years of one’s life knowing that something so basic as one’s gender is wrong and needs correcting. It took such courage for Chastity or Chaz to come out with this news; I wish him nothing but the best.

By kermie b on 06/12/2009 10:22 am

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I admire anyone who has the guts to go through with this type of operation if that’s what they want. If she has the feelings of a man and would feel more comfortable as a man then she should go for it, her Mum will not love her any less because of it I’m sure. Your child will always be your child no matter what.

By caj p on 06/12/2009 10:35 am

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Growing up with world famous and flamboyant parents would be tough for any kid. But to have gender issues as well would be over the top. She reportedly has a good relationship with her mom, and I wish Chaz well. We all have just one run at this thing called life. Her mom did it her way and in a big way, and now her daughter is following that example. Good for Chaz.

By Maggie W on 06/12/2009 10:53 am

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This is hilarious! Honest to goodness, I have a 1950’s outlook on life, yet I’m stuck in an era that is changing too fast for me to keep up. The little blond gorgeous girl I used to ooh and aah over on the Sonny and Cher show has grown into a "butch" lesbian that is now going have surgery so she will "look" like a man…..that cracks me up!

Well, I can only wish her the best and pray that her surgery goes well. It speaks volumes that we have perfected the ability to give a woman a penis and a man a vagina, I always believe only God could do that. :-)

By Belinda Joy on 06/12/2009 12:32 pm

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I hope that he/she finally becomes comfortable in his/her own body. I think that anyone who thinks that homosexuals choose to be the way they are need a good education. Why would anyone choose to follow a way of life that at one time was so difficult? I think that we are born to be the person we are and I know from having my own children I would love them no matter what path their life takes them. I saw a good Christian family raise two boys and a girl. One of the boys ‘came out when he was in his twenty and they now have turned their back on him. I think it is terrible. Then again I think that people like that Hilton guy who went after Miss California is a gruesome ‘figurehead’ of homosexuals. It does nothing to help their cause and those of them (does not sound right -sorry) who treat people who are against gay marriage with such vile disrespect should also not be tolerated.

By canuck canuck on 06/12/2009 1:58 pm

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Canuck my son had a gay friend commit suicide because grandma was such a wonderful Christian she said she hope he got aids and died. He was a nice young man. People are born who they are. I thin the reason the Hilton guy treated CJ with such distaste is comments made on here by some such as "we put up with them". It is fine to have your own veiws but it is wrong to persicute someone for who they are.

By S G on 06/12/2009 2:25 pm