I really like Chaz Bono

[leftyladyfrommo]

I guess he is really getting hit by hate stuff right now.

I saw him on a documentary about transgender children. He really is a neat person. Smart, compassionate, caring, funny.

I wish people would just stop. I guess what I really wish is that people would just let him be who he is because who he is is a great guy.

[xchrom]

1. Indeed. He seems really nice & smart.

I think he gets it all from his mom's side.

[Zorra]

12. lol!

From his mom's side?

Oh, yeh...Sonny...Cher...

Yep. I think we can safely rule out that the qualities of being nice and smart came from Sonny.

[undeterred]

18. Nothing wrong with Sonny.

Just a very different person.

[hlthe2b]

22. Fairly moderate Republican, compared to those of this era...

Sonny was a product of his time.... Cher, on the other hand, transcends her time. She is definitely 5-star in my book...;)

[Generic Other]

28. except he's the copyright bastard

that's hard to forgive.

on edit: After his act was passed, all recorded music pretty much fell out of the public domain until 2046.

[undeterred]

36. Sonny and Cher had great chemistry together.

Like many marriages and many musical acts, they didn't last. But I don't think he was nearly as obnoxious a Republican as most of the ones we have around today and he was very accepting of Chaz.

[hlthe2b]

37. While I agree with you ...

We have no way of knowing how Sonny would react to Chaz. While he was accepting of Chastity's coming out as a lesbian, Sonny was long dead before Chastity began the gender reassignment process to Chaz. I just don't think it is fair to Cher to suggest Sonny was so much more accepting of Chaz then she (as some others have suggested). He never was faced with the issue. :shrug:

[undeterred]

39. That's true.

Its not fair to attribute views to someone who is long dead. Although Cher was in every way the more talented one in the pair, I don't think that means she was/is a better parent than he was.

[eShirl]

46. argh! the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act!

:banghead: :nuke: :argh:

[Odin2005]

31. I thought Sonny was more of a Libertarian than a conservative.

And he was a great singer, of course, along with Cher.

My Boomer parents love their music and I grew up listening to it.

[hlthe2b]

34. He was a registered Republican, but probably was more libertarian

in his views... I know he was a controlling asshole to Cher during their performing years, but I don't think he was that bad. He had his redeeming qualities, it seems.

[TheManInTheMac]

25. Sonny was accepting of Chaz before Cher was.

Cher accepted him when she realized she risked alienating a segment of her audience.

[hlthe2b]

32. Correction: Sonny was accepting of then Chastity being Lesbian...

before Cher was. He was long dead when Chastity began the journey to become Chaz. Thus, who knows how he would have reacted.

[Syrinx]

2. Chaz seemed real cool on Letterman a few months ago

I'm not sure going on Dancing With The Stars is a real dignified move, though.

[dddem]

3. I'm not a huge fan of DWTS, but I'll watch as long as Chaz Bono is on

because the million moms told me not to. I'm a Mom, and I want to teach my daughters that it is our obligation as healthy human beings to support our fellow human beings, especially those who are being bullied for their differences. Plus I like his mom, and she asked for us to support her child.

[MADem]

6. You'll want to vote, as well. That's how he stays on the show!

You do it by phone and/or internet.

[krabigirl]

24. Same here. I actually don't like the show much, but will watch it now :)

[Skidmore]

4. He's going to be on GMA this morning.

[MADem]

5. He's going to change the world, or at least a small piece of it.

He carried himself superbly on the David Letterman show a while back--it was an interview about his book. Letterman held up his side, too, by asking his questions from the perspective of a 'clueless everyman,' but it was a very elucidative interview. Chaz was a brilliant guest, and Letterman doesn't get the credit he deserves for his interviewing skills.

People often dislike (or fear) that which they do not understand. Understanding removes the dislike/fear. Chaz is a transgender ambassador to these people.

It'll all be a good thing, at the end of the day. Going on DWTS was a smart move--talk about a wide audience--that's an eight to eighty (or ninety, or more) demographic. The little 'diary' pieces that they do in the studio leading up to the live performances will give him a lot of 'message' opportunity. Plus, it's a good payday for him.

[Cirque du So-What]

7. Chaz Bono is becoming the highest-profile transgender individual in history

It's no surprise, then, to see that he's becoming a target for bigotry. On the other hand, he has the unprecedented opportunity to shine a light on transgenderism, and thereby remove some of the stigma associated with it. My primary hope is that he remains safe.

[hlthe2b]

20. taking nothing from Chaz, you must be too young to remember Renee' Richards

Wow.. now I feel really old.... :shrug: Thirty-five years before Chaz Bono, Renée Richards made worldwide history...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9e_Richards
Renée Richards (born August 19, 1934) is an American ophthalmologist, author and former professional tennis player. In 1975, Richards underwent sex reassignment surgery. She is known for initially being denied entry into the 1976 US Open by the United States Tennis Association, citing an unprecedented women-born-women policy. She disputed the ban, and the New York Supreme Court ruled in her favor in 1977. This was a landmark decision in favor of transsexual rights.<2>


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/01/garden/01renee.html
The Lady Regrets --the NY Times

Dr. Renée Richards became famous after sex-change surgery and a legal fight to play in the U.S. Open. But a great love affair with a man has eluded her.


Transsexual pioneer Renee Richards regrets fame
http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/02/18/us-richards-idUSN1619986120070218
(Reuters) - As Renee Richards, the world's most famous transsexual athlete, looks back on her life, she has one regret -- the fame she attained.

Richards, who was born Richard Raskind, had managed to create a new life for herself as a woman after a sex change operation in 1975 but a year later made a decision that was to have an even greater impact.

She decided to take the United States Tennis Association to court for banning her from playing in women's events at the U.S. Open as she was a transsexual -- and she won, winning headlines globally as a pioneer for transsexual rights.

Richards, now 72 and without a partner, said she does not regret the sex change operation at the age of 40 -- although she might have liked to have gone through the process a bit earlier -- but she does have misgivings about her notoriety.
....more at the link above......

[Cirque du So-What]

42. I'm old enough to remember Renée Richards alright

and while I'm willing to concede that creeping memory loss may play a factor in my failure to recall Dr. Richards straightaway, I still believe Chaz Bono either has or will achieve greater recognition than Renée Richards ever achieved.

[cwydro]

45. Maybe greater recognition because of celebrity parents

but the Renee Richards story is one of a brave brave person, who had a career and quite a lot going for her, despite the challenges...Not just a celebrity spawn.

I do get tired of these people who are famous just for being famous, or being spawn of famous people.

[Lunabelle]

8. I have never watched DWTS before, but I will now.

ABC made a wise decision because they're gonna get a whole new segment of the population to watch this show.

[BoWanZi]

9. I still fail to see why people care so much about how someone feels about their own gender?

I just don't get it. Why is this such an important issue to so many people who think its a bad thing. So Chaz feels that he has never been happy as a woman, so he goes though the living hell to become a man which he is now and people hate him for it? Why? Its not like his choice of gender affects other people directly. Why shouldn't he be allowed to be happy?

More power to Chaz and his DWTS guest spots and his life. I just don't understand why people continue to hate on him so when he really didn't do anything that directly affects them.

[Bluenorthwest]

10. Chaz is a brave guy, and I'll watch that show just for him as well.

I will always stand with the trans community, because they always stand with me. From day one. Until the last breath, we are one community.

[Bryn]

11. I learned about transgender

When I was 15 back in 1960's my cousin's close friend was a guy named Len whom I met. She told me he used to be a girl named Lynn, but that Lynn felt like a boy, not a girl so his parents allowed him to have sex change operation then Len was much happier. I understood it completely! Len was popular.

I saw on TV this morning how Chaz would "confuse" children on DWTS. Bullshit! Children will understand like I did.

Go, Chaz, Go. I will be rooting for you on DWTS!

[AngryOldDem]

13. I do too.

And there's a simple solution for those who don't want to watch him on the teevee: Turn the damn channel.

[ThatsMyBarack]

14. Chaz Bono is cool!

I saw a documentary about him recently. He has five or six of those exotic hairless cats with all the wrinkles! :D

[mentalsolstice]

15. MSNBC Headline - Bono on DWTS

Imagine my horror at first...I was thinking of U2's Bono.

[eShirl]

47. lmao

:rofl:

[leftyladyfrommo]

16. I hope he knocks em flat on DWTS

You go, guy!

[lonestarnot]

17. K & R! Why can't fucking people mind their own fucking business?

[RebelOne]

19. Everyone who is going to watch DWTS because Chaz

will be one it, remember that you will have to watch Nancy Grace also. I never watch that program but I will to see how Chaz does.

[hlthe2b]

21. Ought to be a "gigantic flaring nostril" alert as public service announcement...

prior to her segments.... ;)

[cwydro]

35. Well, she did stick up for Chaz

so more credit to her.

[dddem]

43. I agree

I actually gained a little (very little) respect for her after that statement. Still can't stand her though.

[krabigirl]

27. Yes, but it could be funny. I can't stand Nancy grace but it cold be entertaining.

[krabigirl]

23. I like him, too. Sad by all of the hate.

[Solly Mack]

26. K&R

[Odin2005]

29. The bigotry against transgenderded folks is simply disgusting.

[leftyladyfrommo]

38. I think people really, really don't understand.

I know i sure didn't until I starting reading articles and seeing documentaries. It's really very interesting.

Remember Dr. Renee Richards - who played professional tennis - and there was such an uproar. But that was probably 30 year's ago. And she is very tall. She must have really had an awful time of it.

I read a book on her not too long ago and she is a well known doctor and still practicing.

[Initech]

41. Bigotry is disgusting period. Doesn't matter who it's against.

[Poll_Blind]

30. All of this stuff going on says nothing about Chaz- it says a lot about everyone else though.

He's got some big balls to go out on the national/world stage and just be who he is. People are always going to try to cut down people who are comfortable with who they are. They won't stop and we can't stop them. But what we can do is give people like Chaz and others our support.

It takes an enormous amount of guts for anyone who does anything off the beaten path to step into the circle of withering criticism which inevitably follows. But there are also people like you and I who support them, and folks like them, and that's how you change the world.

Not too long ago a black and white couple would have also garnered such withering criticism. But those people, for whom love sees no color, stood firm and open-minded people stood with them. Now even hardcore republican assholes like Clarence and Ginni Thomas can enjoy being assholes, formally, together. That, and it may sound weird, but that's progress and just goes to show you how far we've come and how much farther we can go.

PB

[Generic Other]

33. Many families are grappling with all kinds of issues

Cher and Chaz are no different than so many families who have survived and grown stronger after overcoming their prejudice and ignorance. I read where Cher even said she didn't talk to Chaz for a year because she couldn't deal with his choice. And now she understands and supports him.

I find her honesty refreshing. And I also think Chaz has a right to lead a happy fulfilled life as a man if he so chooses. How dare others judge him or try and prevent him from making such a choice.

[Initech]

40. I don't get the hate either. I can't wrap my head around it.

[Horse with no Name]

44. An audience of a show that would propel Palin to great heights

and applaud for Tom Delay...isn't an audience that is going to embrace Chaz.

For that reason, I truly wish he hadn't signed on for this.

NOBODY deserves the ugliness that this crowd will give him.

:(

[myrna minx]

48. K&R in support for Chaz.

[grantcart]

49. The HBO documentary on his sex change transition was fascinating

and showed him as a flawed but extremely endearing person, the kind of guy you would like to have next door.

[alp227]

50. "Chaz iz gawna teach awr kids that gender is meaningless! Derpa derr!" --bigots n/t

[DesertFlower]

51. i think chaz is great.

[Divine Discontent]

52. I'll be voting, I don't watch it, but will support Chaz. Gays get it bad enough, so I can only

imagine the hurled insults at Chaz. Bigoted idiots... There's plenty of them too. I feel that there's literally half the world that hates gay people when it's not their friend, family or coworker who's gay (heard it from my own family/friends about other gay people), so I would guess it's probably nearly 2/3 who comment about how 'weird' 'gross' etc someone like Chaz is. Shame on them. I will vote every week he's on!