New Sex For Chastity

International News, By Christian Taylor, 12th June, 2009

Chastity Bono, daughter of Cher and Sonny Bono, has announced that she will undergo gender re-assignment to become a man.

As reported in TMZ, the 40-year-old journalist, activist, author and musician began transition earlier this year, and has asked media for “privacy, during this long process”.

“Yes it’s true,” said Howard Bragman, Bono’s publicist. “Chaz, after many years of consideration, has made the courageous decision to honour his true identity.

“He is proud of his decision and grateful for the support and respect that has already been shown by his loved ones.

“It is Chaz’s hope that his choice to transition will open the hearts and minds of the public regarding this issue, just as his ‘coming out’ did nearly 20 years ago.”

Media are speculating about whether Bono’s re-assignment will include surgery.

People Magazine have quoted a source as saying that her mother, Cher is very supportive of the decision. “Cher… has known about Chastity wanting to do this for a very long time. This will be a long process but it’s something Chastity has wanted to do for many years.”

When Chastity came out of a lesbian back in 1990 Cher revealed in interviews that she “went ballistic” at first, but within weeks came to view her daughter’s girlfriend as “a son-in-law.” Since then Cher’s not only become one of the world’s biggest living gay icons, she’s also been heavily involved in gay charities and activism, including work with PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays) and HIV fundraising, and admits to having had lesbian affairs herself in the seventies.