Over the last few years, child TV icon Chastity Bono, daughter of Sonny Bono and Cher, has undergone the arduous process of transitioning from female to male. Today’s NY Times has a pretty good story on Chaz, although the editors, for whatever reason, decided to put the story in the FASHION section. I can assure you undergoing gender transition is NOT a fashion statement (*SIGH!*).
There’s a lot of transphobia in the US and not just in the non-queer community. What’s particularly good about this article is that the author actually owns up to her inner transphobe.
Please check it out.
UPDATE: Autumn Sandeen at Pam’s House Blend has a terrific post on the differences between Gender Identity and Gender Expression. For those of you new to trans issues and the concepts involved with identity, it’s a pretty handy primer. PLEASE check it out.
Hey,
Earlier this week Queerty pointed me to a snarky little transphobic commentary by Camille Paglia about Chaz that reminded me why I find the book Whipping Girl by Julia Serano so helpful in my classes – along with Riki Wilchins writings. Thanks for the NYT link!
I am so happy when you post! Much of the time I feel like one hand clapping and then you put something out there and I smile
By: Julia on May 8, 2011
at 6:02 am
[...] And thanks Cath for reminding me of this with your posting yesterday. [...]
By: Chaz Bono’s shares the story of his gender transition | Schooling Inequality on May 8, 2011
at 8:24 am
[...] Bono and Cher's daughter Chastity is now Chaz, you will certainly be hearing about it in the next wChaz Bono – Chaz Bono to Oprah: There's No Doubt My Mom Loves Me. If by some chance you haven't heard that [...]
By: Chaz Bono on May 9, 2011
at 2:14 pm
[...] As Chastity Bono transitions to Chaz Bono « Thinking Queerly … [...]
By: Chaz Bono: Transgender is Not Lesbian is Not Transvestite | celebrity dress up for girls on May 9, 2011
at 2:40 pm
[...] See the original post here: As Chastity Bono transitions to Chaz Bono « Thinking Queerly … [...]
By: As Chastity Bono transitions to Chaz Bono « Thinking Queerly … | ENA news on May 9, 2011
at 9:17 pm