All about Chaz

[Shana A]

All about Chaz
by Rev. Irene Monroe
Bay Windows Contributor
Wednesday May 11, 2011

http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=opinion&sc=guest_opinions&sc2=news&sc3=&id=119558

The long-awaited film Becoming Chaz, a documentary about Chaz Bon's female-to-male (FTM) gender reassignment aired this week on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. And it captures not only the arduous trek of coming out as transgender, but it also captures the universal experience we all face of coming out as true selves.

[...]

But our trans men and women who have the courage to come out sadly and too often receive more criticism, sarcasm, and ridicule than praise.

For example, in New York Times reporter Cintra Wilson's article "The Reluctant Transgender Role Model," she attempts to comprehend the enormity of Chaz's courage, and perhaps applaud his perseverance to undergo surgery. As a cisgendered person (one whose gender matches his or her biological sex) Wilson's remark is at best, insensitive and, at worst, insulting.

also at PHB http://pamshouseblend.com/diary/19239/guest-column-by-irene-monroe-all-about-chaz

[Natasha]

VIEWS: All about Chaz

http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=31832
5/18/11
by Rev. Irene Monroe

The long-awaited film Becoming Chaz, a documentary about Chaz Bono's female-to-male (FTM) gender reassignment aired last week on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. It captures not only the arduous trek of coming out as transgender, and it captures the universal experience we all face of coming out as true selves.

As the only child of the world renown pop duo Sonny and Cher, many of us remember Chaz as their cherub-faced daughter, Chastity, blowing kisses to the audience of her parents' top-rated variety television show, Sonny & Cher.

In 1995 Chaz was outed as a lesbian. However, this time Chaz is in control, and on his on volition announcing he's now legally a man.

Unfortunately, our trans males and females who have the courage to come out, sadly and too often, receive more criticism, sarcasm and ridicule about which they say they are than praise.

[Randi]

The ignorant and foolish will point fingers at us then mock & laugh at us in order to boost their own insecure selves up. I've heard comments about it from some of the mechanics where I work-naturally I don't hang around there too long. I think it just shows how afraid they are of the unknown.

Good for Chaz! I saw part of it but not all- Shows like this definately bring the subject out into the public eye which is what the general public need to learn more about us.