Maybe CBS Studios’ Entertainment Tonight is footing Chaz Bono’s gender transitioning? Hopefully at least part of it, for all the access he granted in a two-part interview that wrapped on Friday. So just what are we learning about Chaz’s “four-to-five year” hormone+surgery journey?
He’s shaving his peach fuzz. And that’s all he’s gonna say! Well. Then.
But more than whether there will be new sex organs, we’re interested in Chaz’s four-year relationship with hottie Jennifer Elia. So goes the obvious questions: Is this a gay or a straight relationship? “Our relationship always modeled a heterosexual relationship, emotionally and intellectually. So now it does physically as well.”
Adds Chaz: “My outsides are finally starting to match my insides.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Cam
So “Chaz” now consideres that they are a straight couple in a hetro relationship?
Emily
First off, what’s with the scare quotes? Maybe I should put quotes around your name too, “Cam?”
Anyway, kudos to Chaz for not taking the bait. It’s about high time cisgender people learned that transgender people
Emily
First off, what’s with the scare quotes? Maybe I should put quotes around your name too, “Cam?”
Anyway, kudos to Chaz for not taking the bait. It’s about high time cisgender people learned that transgender people’s genitals aren’t your novelty!
terrwill
Once again a trans couple label themselves as “straight” and/or “heterosexual” yet they insist on somehow being a part of the Gay rights struggle. If you consider yourself “hetrosexual” that kinda excludes you from being one of the Gays dosen’t it????????????
Fitz
The shape of Chaz’s genitals are none of my business, and I am glad that he has good boundaries from the lookie loos.
Cam
No. 2 · Emily said…
First off, what’s with the scare quotes? Maybe I should put quotes around your name too, “Cam?”
_____________________________________
Sorry, I lose sympathy for somebody trying to get money and attention and riding on the back of the gay community when they say things like “Our relationship always modeled a heterosexual relationship, emotionally and intellectually.” Oh really? Well then, no wonder she went after Ellen when she was Chastity, and attacked her show as “too Gay.” Sounds like she wants to get as far away fom words like “Gay” and “Transgender” as she can, and in her mind feels that being “Straight” is best.
Emily
Cam: Sorry, I lose sympathy for people who can’t even get their fucking pronouns straight or acknowledge a person’s name, you transphobic loser. Whatever his position toward the gay community, if you can’t even respect his identity, you have no place in this debate.
Terrwill: I identify as queer, as do so many other trans people. I’ll be honest to you, I’m in a straight relationship right now (my partner is a man, and I am a (trans) woman), though my sexual orientation is pansexual. Aside from that, I have long felt a connection to the queer community, long before I ever transitioned, and so has my partner (who is also pansexual). However, there are many other trans people, some are gay, some are lesbian, some are straight, and some are bi, pan, asexual, or some other sexual orientation I have overlooked here. You have been told this 50 times over in the previous debate already. I think you’re just denying this because you don’t want to admit to being wrong now. Suck it up and swallow your pride already!
Lest you forget, to have to beat a dead horse here, that the only reason you have your rights as a gay man at all, is because of the transgender women at Stonewall who told the cops enough was enough. You should be grateful to our community, not derisive and dismissive.
Why is it so important that you separate yourself, as a gay man (I’m assuming this, please correct me if I’m wrong, though this would apply no matter who you are), from transgender people? I’d really love to hear your explanation, because at the end of the day, we both want the same rights.
Qjersey
I’m sure to piss off some trans readers, but here I go.
Just like the G’s and L’s and the B’s, there is tremendous diversity in the T’s.
Some T’s transition, identify as straight and live their lives as heteros.
Others participated in the LGB communities and still have an affinity for them.
However I cannot stand when I hear a trans woman or man say “I’m not a fucking faggot/dyke, I’m a woman/man”
So yes, some trans folks invoke heterosexual superiority.
Emily
Qjersey: many trans people go through their own period of internalized homophobia, just as you probably once did, too. In older times, a trans person could be denied access to medical treatment related to transition, were they to say they were gay or lesbian, due to the medical/scientific community’s misguided ideas about sexuality and gender identity. In the trans community, these doctors are reviled as gatekeepers. However, when you’ve lived all your life you are sick and wrong for being who you are, an are threatened with denial of medical treatment because of it, it’s only natural to want to play along with whatever the gatekeepers say!
We as queer people look at our closeted brothers and sisters with sympathy, why must you impose a double standard for trans people???
naghanenu
A trans person is a man/woman that is now a man/woman..WEIRD.
So if i date a straight guy i should be scared that he might be a chick..
Help us all
Emily
Sorry, that should read, when you’ve loved all your life being told you are sick and wrong…
Emily
*lived all your life…
Cam
No. 7 · Emily said…
Why is it so important that you separate yourself, as a gay man (I’m assuming this, please correct me if I’m wrong, though this would apply no matter who you are), from transgender people? I’d really love to hear your explanation, because at the end of the day, we both want the same rights.
__________________-
Typical B.S. Chaz Bono says she is in a straight relationship and that their relationship has always been along straight lines, and in your post Emily, you say that you are currently in a straight relationship….and yet you accuse us of being the separitsts?? Give me a break. Your deflection and attacks are irrelevent, Chaz made her comments, I commented on it and now you try to attack. …as for your last comment…… “”Lest you forget, to have to beat a dead horse here, that the only reason you have your rights as a gay man at all, is because of the transgender women at Stonewall who told the cops enough was enough. You should be grateful to our community, not derisive and dismissive.”
Funny, the eyewitnesses said that it was a handcuffed lesbian who had been billy clubbed screaming at the crowd “Why don’t you guys do something?!” That sparked the riots. But if you need to invent history by all means….
kian
Oh, look, its all the usual transphobic posters here once again.
Its so nice to see you back into the groove of painting all trans people with the same brush (are we still all straight, Terrwill?) and using the wrong pronouns (you never were fond of respect for other’s wishes, were you “Cam”?) and invoking the ick factor argument (sweet gentle Naghanenu, I can always count on you to make me feel icky).
Emily
Cam: how can you possibly call me a separatist when I’m the one saying we should be working together??? Yes, I admitted I’m in a straight relationship right now, but you convenienntly “forgot” that I’ve had same sex relationships too, and could easily have them in the future as well.
By the way, check your history books. It was the trans people in the bar that started fighting back, before anybody else did. I’m not saying others shouldn’t be credited as well, but make sure you do give credit where it’s due.
Continuing on, I suppose by your argument all the straight lawmakers standing up in Congress for your rights shouldn’t bother because they’re heterosexual too?
Cam
No. 15 · Emily said….
Continuing on, I suppose by your argument all the straight lawmakers standing up in Congress for your rights shouldn’t bother because they’re heterosexual too?
______________________________________-
So Emily, if I could remind you of what my initiatl post said…..the one you started attacking me over. Here it is..
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No. 1 · Cam
So “Chaz” now consideres that they are a straight couple in a hetro relationship?
————–
So Emily, my initiatl post took issue with his commenting about his relationship being straight, i.e. not gay and yet you started calling me a separitist?? I know it must make your life easier to assume that any time anybody has ANYTHING they disagree about with ANY trans-person that they are a transphobic separitist, but nope, sometimes we just disagree. You need to get over your lashing out and think before you freak out.
kian
Emily: They are not worth your time. They have already come here with preconceived notions of trans people and are unwilling to listen to arguments that contradict them. Ignore them.
Cam
No. 17 · kian said…
Emily: They are not worth your time. They have already come here with preconceived notions of trans people and are unwilling to listen to arguments that contradict them. Ignore them.
________________________
Attack, dismiss etc… typical. Nobody can disagree with anything anybody you deem to be (Perfect) without being attacked. Kian, get over it, this isn’t a Trans v. Gay discussion, this is about Chaz Bono, everything from attacking Ellen to being “Too Gay” to now saying that they are in a “Straight” relationship seems to indicate not wanting to be associated with gays. Yet to bring up any question brings people like you and Emily out of the woodwork with your name calling and attacks. Sorry Thought police, attack all you want but it doesn’t change the fact that I still question her comments.
Tommy
Why does a relationship have to be defined in terms of gay and straight? Why couldn’t she say they have a loving relationship that they don’t put a label on? To me she’s a transgender person in love with a woman. It’s not straight or gay, but something different.
We seriously need to stop with all those labels.
Andrew
Cam, I respect your opinions — you do bring up some valid points — but why not respect Chaz’s identity by referring to him by his chosen pronouns/name? He’s already indicated that he wishes to be addressed as male, so please stop disrespecting the trans community and and start calling him “he.” Only then will this be a serious debate.
Kropotkin
Chaz Bono Won’t Be Telling You About Anything ‘Below the Waist’
Good for him! And anyone who asks about should be ashamed of themselves.
Kropotkin
“Funny, the eyewitnesses said that it was a handcuffed lesbian who had been billy clubbed screaming at the crowd “Why don’t you guys do something?!” That sparked the riots. But if you need to invent history by all means….”
Lol, Stonewall has been so mythologized that it’s like a bibical story, we’ll probably never know what exactly happened. True facts: lesbians were there, drag queens were there, and trans women were there. Who cares who did what first? That’s irrelevant if you’re trying to claim some kind street cred.
And people should stop wasting their time arguing with Terrwill and naghanenu, they are transparent transphobic trolls. Who cares what they think?
AxelDC
I tried to get angry and offended at Chastity’s comments, but all I could think was “poor dear, her parents were a famous duet, who each went on to success in acting, music and politics. All she has to get attention is her last name and publicity stunts like this!”
If she wants to be a he, more power to her. The big question is: why should I give a damn?
Now if Mom sings at her wedding, then I’ll be interested.
kian
Thank you Andrew for speaking up to Cam. If you can’t respect a trans person’s basic right to self-identify, how can you expect any sort of discussion. I know you’re not stupid, so don’t pretend that you don’t recognize the situation for what it is – transphobia. You can’t admit that you are transphobic. Say it with me. Transphobe. Can’t handle it? Then stop being an ass and purposely baiting people.
kian
That last rant was directed at Cam.
pantherq
I think she is doing much more than garnering publicity for herself. He has always presented as masculine when he was photographed, social events are the exception. There is very little difference between Chaz’s story and those stories of butches that have gone on to transition.
She is the face of FTM’s for this point and time.
pantherq
I think she is doing much more than garnering publicity for herself. He has always presented as masculine when he was photographed, social events are the exception. There is very little difference between Chaz’s story and those stories of butches that have gone on to transition.
He is the face of FTM’s for this point and time.
I’m less than perfect, sorry about the pronoun error.
Fitz
What possible advantage are you working for, those of you who are so strident about separating out the “T’s”? Seriously, I will try to be open to the answer… someone tell me why we would want to be like that? In a world where transexuals are NOT considered part of the queer community, what is better for us?
Charles Merrill
Queerty thanks for the video. Glad to see that Chaz has more substance and understanding for the human condition than her mother. He is a real person vs feathers, sequins, and look at me, I’m Cher. Cher did some good acting, but Chaz is real life.
Joey
“the only reason you have your rights as a gay man at all, is because of the transgender women at Stonewall”
Yes Emily, you’re right. If that trans woman didn’t speak up, gay rights would be in the same place now in 2009, as they were in 1969. Thanks for the clarification.
rudy
I hope you’re being ironic.
dontblamemeivotedforhillary
Queerty is like Joan Rivers’ daughter: Talentless!
Emily
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.
-Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)
Hopefully that will give you some perspective on whether the GLB community should accept the T’s or not.
Merv
Why do trannies insist on buying into binary gender? There’s nothing wrong with being a manly dyke, or a chick with a dick. There’s no obligation to resort to a scalpel in order to be who you are, and no reason to identify as one or the other, when you’re really both.
Emily
Merv: Most trans people (“tranny” is an offensive slur, akin to “faggot”) don’t buy the whole binary gender model, including myself. You’re right in that there is nothing wrong with being either of what you suggested (though the phrase “chick with a dick” is also pretty offensive, as it’s used primarily pejoratively. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt though, and assume you didn’t mean it in that context). However, your assumption that all trans people want “the surgery” (Sex Reassignment Surgery, which is actually one of many optional surgeries for trans people) is dead wrong. Many trans people are perfectly happy with their genitals the way they are, and place much more importance to the social transition and the legal acceptance of their gender. For others (such as myself) the dysphoria surrounding the genitals can be overwhelming.
I agree with you on another point, too. Some trans people do identify as both genders, they are often referred to as genderqueer or bigender, depending on the individual’s identity. But while genderqueer and other non-binary gender identified trans people exist, so do trans people who identify solely with one sex or another. It comes down to who we feel we are inside, and there’s growing medical evidence to suggest that the physical properties of our brains help shape that identity.
Emily
As a side note, it’s become painfully obvious that many Queerty readers don’t know the first thing about transgender issues. I think it’s about time the Queerty editors stepped up to the plate and posted a Trans 101 article, outlining all the basic issues. If no one is willing to do this, I’d be happy to submit something myself.
spindoc
No. 20 · Andrew
Cam, I respect your opinions — you do bring up some valid points — but why not respect Chaz’s identity by referring to him by his chosen pronouns/name?
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Cam said “When she was Chastity, referring to the time in the past when she publicly attacked Ellen’s show for being “Too Gay” Additionally, Kian, you can try to make your world simpler by assuming others are “Transphobic” however that is an idiotic attack to try to cover the fact that for years Chaz has behaved as a separatist with no interest in the community unless it was to get a job. I was calling HRC and telling them they were trying to divide the community when they tried to push for the ENDA bill without Trans protections and they needed to knock it off, and I feel that the community is stronger as a whole. You however, are only here to support your specific group. You remind me of those parents that will never admit their kids have done something wrong. You can show them a video of their kid doing something wrong, and first they will try to say it isn’t their kid, then they will turn around and try to attack the school, the teacher attack ANYBODY rather than admit their kid was wrong. Chaz was speaking as a separatist, as he always has unless he needed to make money off the community. BUt in your world, to admit that a transperson said anything wrong is the same as admitting that your whole world is wrong.
As for Emily, your arrogance is obvious…
No. 35 · Emily
Merv: Most trans people (“tranny” is an offensive slur, akin to “faggot”) don’t buy the whole binary gender model, including myself. ….
No Emily, what that says is that YOU do not accept that definition, to assume that the entire transgender community thinks that way just because you do is arrogant, and unless you’ve just read some survey on it given to the community, foolish of you to try to claim.
Emily
Spindoc: I have been an active member of the trans community, and have spoken with hundreds, if not thousands of trans people, and the one consistent thing that has come up in conversations is that very, very few of us subscribe to the gender binary model. Why would you ever assume that we as a community would believe in the very model that oppresses us in the first place?
As evidenced by your very username, you’re just twisting things around to fit your opinion, disregarding the facts.
As for Chaz, just because he identifies himself as straight doesn’t mean he’s abandoning the queer community or his support for it. The reality is that we wouldn’t have the rights we do today without our straight allies, and Chaz is still one of them.
Lastly, I thank you, despite all your misunderstanding of trans and queer rights issues, for at least calling out Cam on his disrespectful language.
Cam
No. 38 · Emily said…
As for Chaz, just because he identifies himself as straight doesn’t mean he’s abandoning the queer community or his support for it. The reality is that we wouldn’t have the rights we do today without our straight allies, and Chaz is still one of them.
____________________________
You don’t read well do you? Chaz isn’t being called out just because he now identifies as straight, it’s because Chaz has ALWAYS self segregated. Chaz, then Chastity, Attacked Ellen in print because her show was “Too GAy”, now is saying her relationship is straight, not Trans, not gay, but straight. Chaz has never wanted to be a part of this community. If there was a surgery that was perfected Chaz would be completely happy to dissappear forever as a straight man and never do one thing in the gay community ever again. Calling somebody out on what they said isn’t anti-trans. The entire community took a bullet, rightfully so, when we attacked HRC and Barney Frank for trying to push through the ENDA bill without Trans protections, but as far as Chaz seems to be concerned, none of that matters because he is a straight man and no longer associated with “The Gays”. Protect him all you want but his opinion seems obvious. Oh, and Again, try to read more closely, Spindoc doesn’t look to be taking me to taks for me disrespectful language, he was responding to Andrew’s comment.
Media Bias
Interesting. Let the straight community know what you decide on before we get the pleasure of explaining this mess of disjointed theories and sociological drama to young children, before Obama pushes the agenda in the freaking 1st grade, as desired. Meanwhile, I’ll home school tyvm. Stop blaming us when you guys can neither define nor accept some basic effing concepts or even terminology.
TSPatricia
The community here pretty much blows….
ellysabeth
It would be absolutely pointless to attempt to engage in discussion here with people who cannot even respect each others’ rights to determine their own identities, be they gender identities, sexual identities, or even such a simple matter of chosen name.
Apologies for speaking so harshly on this point, but the ignorance and disrespect being paraded about here will be an obstacle to fruitful discussion until removed.
Merv
Don’t get discouraged Emily, TSPatricia, and Ellysabeth. I may be ignorant of the ins and outs of the trans community (I didn’t even know they don’t like being called trannies), but I support the cause without reservation. There is definitely some hostility in the community, but I’d say the biggest problem is ignorance.
tlezfemme
To begin with. I think that he has more than proven that he identifies as male. How about using female pronouns people. I thought we are supposedly talking to & for TLBG people. Yes, I used the acronym opposite from what people usually see. Yes, that was intentional. I’m a transwomen & tired of being told to sit in the back of the queer bus. I have encountered a lot of prejudice from LGB people & I’m tired of it. The purposeful misuse of gender pronouns & complete unwillingness to accept my true gender being the primary issue. Hence when I read over & over again that you are not using proper pronouns for transpeople It gets my hackles up. Please think about what you are saying. Even the stogy newspapers & other media outlets at least across USA have adopted in their styles the proper use of a person’s pronoun by how they present. It’s common courtesy. Please learn it.
Having said that I want to add. Transpeople identify with the l g & B people because we either originally identified or currently identify somewhere in there. Personally I had been bi I always had primary relationships with cisgender females. As I became aware of my own gender identity I also came to hate the very genitalia that everyone some thinking that Chaz is going to get. Fact of the matter is most of the transmen I know don’t want to get what is being passed off as GRS. What they build is nonfunctional for the most part or at least not practical. In past listings here I’ve read here about a transwoman who gave herself a version of GRS because she hated her birth genitalia. I am very much the same way. I no longer want to even see one of those & the balls that go with it. That has led me to be only attracted to people born female. Hence I would be considered a lesbian. It gets a bit more interesting though. I also am very attracted to transmen. My fiancé & primary partner is a transman. We were quite taken back when his nephew brought it to our attention that we are a het couple. OK, our case is different from Chaz & Jennifer’s. Which brings me to sharing the notion of self identity. Regardless of how you were born that often has nothing to do with your gender identity. Chaz identifies as male. It’s as simple as that. His partner identifies as female. That too is a simple fact. If you have one man & one woman you have a het relationship. It’s as simple as that. Only someone is too shallow minded to accept what are the facts of gender identity would say anything other than they are a het couple. It has nothing to do with privilege. It is just factual reasoning.