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Warren Beatty's Transgender Son Calls Chaz Bono a Misogynist
Sandie Angulo Chen ON Nov 17, 2011 at 11:16PM
http://www.ivillage.com/warren-beattys-transgender-son-calls-chaz-bono-misogynist/1-a-403881 (http://www.ivillage.com/warren-beattys-transgender-son-calls-chaz-bono-misogynist/1-a-403881)
Chaz Bono isn't the only transgender son of a celebrity couple. Stephen Ira Beatty (born Kathlyn), the eldest child of Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, is also an F-to-M man, and he has a big problem with Bono acting like a spokesperson for the trans community.
In particular, 19-year-old Beatty (a student at Sarah Lawrence University), takes issue with the Dancing With the Stars contestant's comments about gender in various interviews, RadarOnline reports.
While I think it's perfectly fine for Beatty to disagree with Bono's opinions, I know a lot of FTMs who have said similar things and are perfectly within their rights to do so. I don't quite get Beatty's beef with Bono's comment that being pre-op was like living with a birth defect as I feel the same way. IMHO it seems that Beatty has more of a problem with the fact that A) Chaz is now well-known as a figure bringing attention to trans issues and B) Chaz is a more stereotypically masculine FTM whereas Beatty is a self-proclaimed feminist. My question is, what has Beatty done to benefit the trans community? Correct me if I've overlooked his achievements, but until this week I'd never even heard of him. If he wants someone else to be the "spokesman" for trans issues then he needs to shut up bad-mouthing Bono and do something positive for his brothers and sisters. Otherwise, at least to me, it looks like jealousy and pettiness.
I had similar thoughts, Kreuzfidel. Stephen Ira has had a different experience than Chaz, and all Chaz can do (and all he has really done) is talk about his own experience. If Stephen dislikes that, then he could put his own voice out there or help promote other trans men who have had differing experiences. I don't think insulting Chaz for talking about his own experiences when asked about them accomplishes much, though.
If we stop talking about Chaz's gender, then we have to talk about his talent... since there aren't actually any there. Let's keep talking about his gender.
I think the media is making a big deal about something which is minor. He's a transgender male...Big deal. It isn't a reason to make him famous. I am glad they are informing people though.
While I too am somewhat annoyed by Chaz's statements (he must be on a different brand of T than me), this guy most definitely has a different experience than Chaz as was mentioned. While Chaz isn't necessarily the best representative of the ftm experience, I'm not sure a feminist who attends a historically female college is either.