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Chastity Bono Undergoing Sex Change

Chastity Bono, the only child Cher had with Sonny Bono, is in the early stages of transitioning from female to male, the 40-year-old activist, writer and musician's publicist confirmed.

"Yes, it's true -- Chaz, after many years of consideration, has made the courageous decision to honor his true identity," said Bono's publicist, Howard Bragman. Reportedly, Bono began the gender reassignment process shortly after his milestone birthday in March. "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' [as a lesbian] 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 sexuality has long been a topic for news outlets. In 1990, the weekly tabloid Star outed him against his will, and he denied the rumors until revealing the truth in a 1995 cover story with LGBT magazine The Advocate. The publication later featured much of his writing, including an interview he conducted with his mother. He was also famously estranged from his father -- who in the '90s became a Republican congressman from California -- because of differences in their political views. The relationship was strained to the point where they hadn't spoken for more than a year when Sonny died from a skiing accident in 1998.

So far, Cher has yet to comment on the news.

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Kevin

I speak from personal experience here - I helped a friend find a surgeon to "make the last step." She had been living as a man for years anyway, and finally was able to get the job done because a dear friend left her the money when he died. Seeing how happy this person is now, I am glad I helped. He's much happier and there are no more lingering "issues" to deal with.
Go Chaz. Be what you want to be. Good luck.

June 20 2009 at 8:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ronaldferguson4

who cares there more important things then that

June 19 2009 at 10:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
thomvien

GOD created me and I was born gay this was not a mistake.

June 15 2009 at 10:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
superdave5543

God called me last night after the Laker game and told me to judge these people.

June 15 2009 at 9:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
clicklie

In the bible it says remove the speck from ur eye so you can remove the speck from your brothers... DO I NEED TO SAY MORE!! who are you to judge?! Why don't you guys go remove the speck from your eye? Chasity has the right to do whatever she wants. You guys shouldn't judge her! thats God's job! We are put on Earth to tell people about him. Remember that!!!!

June 15 2009 at 8:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tbstables65

I wanna have a species change. I know I was born to be a dog. All you haters are just speciphobes. I no not have a mental illness. I am a german shepard in a humans body.

June 15 2009 at 7:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
DON

DO I REALLY CARE

June 15 2009 at 6:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
darkinsirl

Cher is a man, right?

June 15 2009 at 5:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kren

I TRY to "tolerate" other peoples' religious beliefs, so what can't they accept that there are opinions besides what is found in the Bible? What happened to "judge not, lest ye be judged?" How many of you so-called "Christians" have studied the history of the Bible & the history of religion as a whole? The Bible has been edited & re-edited an unknown number of times, along with being translated in to hundreds of languages. It's IMPOSSIBLE to determine what remains of the original texts. It amazes me that MILLIONS of people can believe the writings of a book, when so little is know of its history, facts and author(s)!!

June 15 2009 at 3:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
smaria62

Poor Chasity...Poor Cher...., as a mom of an only girl myself... I don't know that I would be able to be cool calm and collected about this choice of my child if after all these years she wanted to go that far...it should have been recognized much earlier on in her life and delt with at that time.....Maybe she just grew up thinking that she could never compete with the extream sexinss and beauty of Cher and stepped back in the opposit direction as a survival tehnic....Only God knows hqw we screw up ourselves so throughly....I pray for their individual happiness...through it all

June 15 2009 at 3:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply