Chaz Bono’s decision to participate on Dancing with the Stars causes viewers to voice their opinions. Their thoughts range from simply forbidding their children to watch to boycott the series themselves. The issue is about Chaz Bono’s sexual orientation. He is a transsexual.
What is so different about Chaz Bono that appears to awaken a new transphobia?
Chaz was born a girl. However, as far back as he can remember, he identified his inner being as male. That is what we call transgender. It is a medical recognized condition and differs from homosexuality. Gay people are attracted to the same sex; Tran genders have the innermost desire to be the opposite sex.
Chaz chose to match his psyche to his outer body. He took hormones and underwent surgery. His treatments and procedures were successful. Chaz is now a transsexual. It took him forty years to fulfill his desire to be whole.
Transphobia was under little discussion until the DWTS announcement. There is this controversy about acceptance and rejection. Many people applaud his determination and his courage. They support his efforts. However, history shows that American viewers have a difficult time when celebrities who transgress traditional gender appear on the screen. For example, it took Ellen DeGeneres years before she came out of the closet to confront homophobia. There was the same outrage as there is now with Chaz. Ellen remained true to herself. She continued her career as actress and comedian. Today, even anti-gay viewers are watching her successful talk show.
It appears that Chaz now challenges transphobia, the negative attitudes, and feelings towards transsexualism, or transgender people. He will be dancing with the stars on the ABC network. This is a first. Someone always has to be the first. This time it is Chaz Bono. Chaz will not appear on the show as the child of Sonny and Cher, nor will he appear as the transsexual. His sexual orientation, after all, is not the focus of DWTS. Yet, it is fair to say that his involvement with the show will bring another round of attention to the GLBT community.