Chaz Bono...

Does that mean you have to be good looking and in shape to advocate for a cause? Judgement, America's favorite passtime!

Why do you need to "support" him? I couldn't care less one way or the other what people do to make themselves feel whole and normal. I've seen several interviews with him and he's always comported himself very graciously. Oh, and he's never been in shape. Just because one has a gender change doesn't mean that they have to be a "poster boy" so to speak for transgenders. Does it?

Really? The fact that he hasn't conformed to your physical ideal comes into play when discussing his choice to have surgery performed because......why excactly?

News flash, most people on TV are beautiful, but some people are just normal looking & deemed news worthy. I'm thinking this is one of the latter cases.

**ETA**
I truly believe that people with similar attitudes of Lucky are dangerous. They are the all-or-nothing types who are so adamant about not being talked into anything other than their narrow-minded ideas that they have tendencies to become beligerant & nonsensical no matter what tact an individual takes with them.

I actually have never seen interviews with him, so I can't speak to his personality or attitude, but I do take issue the judgement on him taking care of himself and staying in shape. Presumably you've never taken steroids. I had some when I was going through treatment for breast cancer, and despite the brutality of the chemotherapy, I actually gained weight because of the steroids. They are very powerful drugs and we have NO idea what he does or doesn't do to take care of himself or to stay in shape. For all we know, he eats salad and works out an hour a day, the steroids may be the only culprit of his weight gain. You may find him unattractive, that's fine, but you know nothing about his health and exercise practices. Don't judge what you don't actually know.

I think from watching Dancing With the Stars that Chaz is a very shy person. I think it's hard enough for people to come out and say that they are gay. Can you imagine the pressure and how hard it would be to change your whole identity? I don't think there is any rule that someone has to have an athletic, God like body just to change genders. I think it's irrelevant that Chaz struggles with weight. We all have struggles. Mine... stupid acne. So, if I go into a meeting does that mean everyone should take me less seriously b/c I have a zit on my chin? I think Chaz is trying to be an advocate for transgender communities and He is the first transgender on Dancing with the Stars, so that's pretty big. I don't know what it's like and the struggles behind changing, so who am I to judge? Go Chaz!!!

Meh. He is who he is. Just like not all of us in the general population are thin and beautiful and stay in shape, there's no reason to think that just because someone is transgendered he or she would be in great shape too, or that someone who isn't attractive is somehow not worthy of "representing" a community. I think that's a shallow idea. Sorry, but I see no relationship between someone's decision to change gender and the quality of his or her physical appearance. It's like saying that someone who has a nose job or gets her eyebrows lifted should also have to be in shape? Where's the connection? There isn't one.

And to those who are "afraid" of this...really? LOL please grow up and find something actually scary to fear. I'm absolutely at a loss to understand what the heck could be scary and uncomfortable about another person's gender choice. That's ridiculous.

If one of my children changed genders, I can honestly say that it wouldn't bother me.

Being transgendered is as real as depression, diabetes, eating disorders - so, are all of those afflictions 'not normal'? (and this is not targeted to you, KJinHB - you sound open minded). It is a chemical/hormonal imbalance where the person is born into the wrong sex. It's got to be confusing for anyone growing up, feeling like they were born the wrong way, and now that he is in his own body, it will probably take a while to adjust. I think the fact that he's speaking out in general does help the community, because you don't have to be a model type in any body to be yourself. I didn't see the interview and DON'T watch Dancing with the Stars (or, wanna be stars - attention mongers). I don't know his attitude, but I suppose if he comes across as a negative jerk (I know you didn't use that term) or whatever, well, being a jerk knows no gender boundaries, right?

I might have an attitude too if people like you were judging me all the time. I can't even begin to imagine what he is going through after a major life change like this. I am sure he is getting all kinds of people throwing negative energy at him. Maybe he is nervous and eating more which is causing the weight gain. Maybe he hears comments like yours on a constant basis and wants to go home and eat a twinkie or two or three to make himself feel better. Trust me, he's getting a lot of flack because of his situation. I'm sure up to the surgery he was nervous. Unless his weight and attitude affects you directly, then don't worry about it. If this is your biggest gripe then you have great life.

Who are you to say he really could have done a better job advocating the transgender community? They don't have fat mean people in their community? lol ~ Someplace, somewhere some fat mean guy that just had sex change related to him : )

I think you were very judgmental and there was no other way to take it.

I watched a show on OWN ( I think!) about him and his change and his girlfriend. It was very interesting. I think that as women it's hard to understand all of the sudden being injected with a LOT of testosterone. That probably made him pretty jerk-like. At least, that's what his girlfriend said. He was already out of shape, probably from depression and being the sex that he thought he was not supposed to be. I assume that there was a lot of weight gain from that as well as the drugs he was taking to change into a man. I think that it's like a rebirth for him and it's taking him some time to get used to the man he has become.
L.

I didn't see the horrible attitude and negativity so I can't comment on that. Some people are negative, no matter what body they are in.

Why is it other people's concern what shell others choose to live their lives in? Life is short.

Plenty of women, and men, don't take care of themselves and stay in shape, so I don't know why Chaz Bono has to stay in shape, just because he changed his sex.

People, live your lives as you wish, and let others live their lives as they wish. What sex people choose to be does not affect you. And if a child of mine chose to change his/her identity, I might mourn for a day, and then I would get over it. A person it not their shell, a person is their brain, their spirit, and their "soul."

p.s. I don't see why anyone should be sad for Chaz's girlfriend -- Chaz's girlfriend (does he have one?) can make her own choices. It's condescending to be sad for her.

I didn't see the interview, but I have a couple of transsexual friends - one female to male, the other male to female. Both of them knew from a young age they had the wrong body, and both only felt complete once they had transitioned.
I don't see what Chaz Bono's weight has to do with his gender identity.

I think Chastity Bono is a victim of the Hollywood family to the first degree.

I've tried to stay out of it.

Like you - I think it - can't really call Chaz a he or a she - I know that's bad - but really - the whole attitude it has had has been horrible. I feel sorry for Chaz's girlfriend.

If you compare Chaz to the other people - Chaz was the one with the worst attitude. While I get that Chaz's change has been publicized the world over - but it's not like Chaz said "get out" or "can I have some privacy please?" no. Chaz has done everything in Chaz's power to be in the lime light.

I may not have seen the interview to which you refer.

And, you can't expect every member of a "group" to be a certain way. That's like saying "All lesbians have short hair" or "Fat people are lazy" which I'm sure is not your intent.

Nor do I think Chaz Bono "owes" me or society (or any of us) anything. If someone chooses to advocate something...fine. But just "being" something doesn't make you an automatic advocate.

I have to say, I saw Chaz on Dancing with the Stars last night for about 10 seconds and he has the smallest feet I've ever seen on an adult! Teeny tiny. LOL

It's confusing. The whole thing confuses me. Not the basics, just all the emotions, and I keep thinking like a mom.

I would like to think that I would be able to be supportive of my kids in all situations. I would certainly love them. But, as a mom, how do I not think of the person I raised as my daughter for 30 odd years as my daughter. It would almost be like the death of someone. I would want her to be so happy with her life, but I would mourn.

It's just all confusing.

You are acting like your surprised at these responses but you asked for it. You said "the other people were beautiful" implying that Chaz is not, simply because of his size. I don't necessarily "agree" with what he has done, but I do believe it was his "choice" to do as he wishes. I also beleive that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and although you are allowed your own opinion, to disregard people of size as not beautiful is ridiculous.

I have not see the interview, but the way I think about this is that in any group of one kind of people, there will be all kinds of distinct personalities. I am okay with that. I might not like a particular personality, but I would not necessarily think that that person should not represent a particular group, because there are all kinds of personalities within each group. I have many gay friends and have know transgendered folks (I live near SF). I went to grad school with someone who was in the middle of transitioning...that was a bit confusing at times. I also know someone whose 4 year old son announced that he is a girl and they are shifting his identity. At first it was a bit startling because it was so new, but now it is just normal.

I think I *get* what you're saying.

To me Chaz doesn't look healthy - he looks puffy and swollen, and that very well may be from steroids. I wouldn't want people to think that *all* transgender people are going through significant health issues when that is probably not the case.

I hope all transgender can find true peace and happiness.

I'm sure you didn't mean it this way, but your post comes across as saying that fat people shouldn't bother to change their genders. He (and other people) don't choose gender reassignment surgery to look good... they choose it because their bodies don't match what their minds say they are.

I didn't see the interview and don't know much about Chaz Bono, but it's too bad if he's not been able to get over the negative emotions of his childhood.

"He"? seriously? are you questioning if he is a man? I don't understand what you are saying. Are you asking for people to think he has something wrong with him? I think what he did was brave. He is the son of famous people, and choose to change his sex. There are fat people that advocate for saving animals. What is your point? And, please don not act like you are just fine w/ transgender people. You aren't.

Wow... some harsh words on here.

Grandma T nailed it.
What ever happened to Chastity? Really.
How can one survive as the progeny of Cher?

She supports him. She's his mother, what happened to Chastity's support, where was her mother?