Chaz Bono On GMA: Gender Is Between Your Ears, Not Between Your Legs (VIDEO)

**AP Text, Scroll down for video**

NEW YORK - Chaz Bono says beginning the sex-change process to turn him from a woman to a man is "the best decision I've ever made."

The 40-year-old writer, activist and reality-TV star, who was born a girl to Sonny Bono and Cher, says he's eight months into the years-long transformation and says he feels great.

Formerly called Chastity, he told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Thursday: "Life is short and life is precious. This is who I am. I need to finally be who I am."

Bono says he always felt like a boy growing up and came out as a lesbian 11 years ago. Now he's undergone gender-reassignment surgery and hormone therapy.

He tells ABC: "To me, gender is between your ears, not between your legs. I've felt male as far back as I can remember."

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Comments

[dben]

10:11 AM on 11/21/2009

So, let me get this right:

1. the effects of SYNTHETIC testosterone in trans "men" are natural and good

2. the masculine behavior produced by natural levels of endogenous testosterone in biological males is a "construct" and "learned behavior.

If masculinity is fiction how can trans "men" justify their desire to be mimic this behavior and why do they feel more authentic doing so?

If masculinity is a "construct" why do trans "men" want so desperately to inject synthetic testosterone for a lifetime in order to act and appear just like biological males?

[silo99]

12:50 PM on 11/21/2009

There is such a thing as biological gender. Its not a construct, its within the brain and cannot be changed. For 50 years of psychology has attempted to modify transsexual behavior through every conceivable method - none have been successful.

While most people are fortunate to have a body and mind that align with one another, the transsexual isn't so lucky. Their body and brain literally went in opposite directions. Since they cannot change their mind, they change their body instead.

A short but fascinating and insightful video on the subject.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6brzqqUXi8&feature=related

If you want even more insight the published article on the stria terminalis in regards to gender
http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/full/22/3/1027

[mbsq]

01:09 PM on 11/23/2009

but the notion of "alignment" is a socially constructed fiction! people can behave and feel however they want, no matter what kind of body they have. there is no need for "girls to be girls" or whatever. science should not try to label everything about us as masculine and feminine. i thought we were beyond that.

[mbsq]

06:11 PM on 11/20/2009

Instead of changing your body to be the way you think it's "supposed to be", why not simply realize that it's not supposed to be anything. It is what it is, and there's nothing wrong with the way you are. There's nothing wrong about the bodies we're born into.

[MsVella]

08:11 AM on 11/21/2009

no its a medical problem. With your logic, why doesn't someone with a cleft palate just accept who they are not not have it fixed.

[mbsq]

01:25 PM on 11/23/2009

it's only a problem of social psychology. cleft palate on the other hand can cause problems with feeding, ear disease, and speech.

[mbsq]

03:24 PM on 11/20/2009

I was born with an unfortunate disability. I was born with the wrong elbows! The rest of my body is male, but I have female elbows! I need surgery to bring my body into full gender harmony, to fit nicely in a magazine photo, but people don't understand my condition.

[sizogee]

04:55 PM on 11/20/2009

Sorry nobody understands your condition. But we know some about transgendered people.

We know they commit suici.de at about a 30% rate. It is much lower for those who successfully "transition" successfully.

We also know that they do indeed have the brain of the gender they believe they are. Since all of your consciousness is based on your brain, I'd consider this fairly relevant.

You attitude will be considered barbaric in a few decades. Like folks who compare homosexuality to bestiality.

[mbsq]

06:05 PM on 11/20/2009

There was a time when categorizing everything as "male" and "female" was NOT considered progressive. I am disgusted by the totalitarian philosophy that tells me which of my thoughts, feelings, interests, and preferences are masculine and feminine. Down with gender essentialism!

[HSC55]

03:09 PM on 11/20/2009

A person's sexual identity is very complicated. We WANT to think there are just two sexes but nature does some strange things sometimes. It is always hushed up to protect the child but there are many hermaphodites born and the parents make the mistake of 'chosing' which sex the baby will be and doing the irreversible surgery before the child is old enought to make the right decison based on what sex that child 'feels, thinks' he/she is. It IS all in the brain.

[mbsq]

03:20 PM on 11/20/2009

I think it's all in the society. Society constructs gender norms and makes you want to fit into them. Break free. Gender essentialism is a myth.

[MsVella]

08:15 AM on 11/21/2009

how absurd. Gender is a biological thing which is necessary. Male and female do exist, and have similarities and differences. You act like there is no difference between male and female

[SonofSolomon]

03:38 PM on 11/20/2009

How many is "many"?

[roch20]

10:39 AM on 11/20/2009

Hey Chaz, I'm fully supporting you, but man; why not try to lose some weight first? (For me) it's okay if you're trying to look as masculine as possible, either, but man, you do not have to look like a d.amn trucker; helloooo! And btw, given that you still have plans to submit to the sex-change surgery, I recommend it is better to stop gaining weight, my friend, can have serious complications on the operating table because of the weight; think!

[Fletch17C]

11:19 AM on 11/20/2009

I was thinking the same thing, but I wonder if it might be harder to lose weight when you have so much psychology conflict about your body. Certainly, from a health standpoint, it would be in Chaz's best interest to lose a few pounds. Hopefully, he will eventually be able to do so and become comfortable and healthy in his own skin.

[redroom75]

09:50 AM on 11/20/2009

Good on you Chaz! I can't even imagine how hard your path has been or might continue to be, but I wish you strength and love.

[Charity]

02:04 AM on 11/20/2009

good for you, chaz. all the best.

[Diaschisis]

01:20 AM on 11/20/2009

The ignorance shown by some comments is truly astounding, even more so because every one of us has a gender identity, the experience of gender. Yet, we refuse to grant that another person may not have the same self image as we have of ourselves. How odd.

[NoSillyName]

01:05 AM on 11/20/2009

More Chaz:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1229359/Chers-son-Chaz-Bono-speaks-sex-change-reveals-I-felt-like-boys.html

[jamesmac10]

12:30 AM on 11/20/2009

a sex change is little more than extensive cosmetic surgery with lots of added hormones. until we can change a persons chromosomes there will be no full conversion from one sex to another.

[BlackYowe]

01:01 AM on 11/20/2009

Yes and that will not happen any time soon. Regardless of how strong willed we might be we are a product of our family environment as well as our own mindset and one cannot transform the attitudes of our parents and siblings as we are growing up. It's delusional to say you have changed sexes its just not possible to do that. There is nothing wrong with being somewhat androgynous. Our culture's whole notion of gender boundaries is pretty warped anyway. Why don't we just start excepting people for who they are and not make them feel they should go though hormone treatments and disfiguring surgery?

[Zoe Brain]

07:23 AM on 11/20/2009

"A 46,XY mother who developed as a normal woman underwent spontaneous puberty, reached menarche, menstruated regularly, experienced two unassisted pregnancies, and gave birth to a 46,XY daughter with complete gonadal dysgenesis." - J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Jan;93(1):182-9

So much for chromosomes determining "real" sex.

[dzagama]

07:49 AM on 11/20/2009

That's fascinating.

[BlackYowe]

12:01 PM on 11/20/2009

Kinda different thn Chaz eh?

[BlackYowe]

12:27 AM on 11/20/2009

Chaz I wish I was happy for you but I am not. It makes me very sad to see self mutulation like this. There are societies who deal with these issues far better than the West. Please take the time to watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9VmLJ3niVo

[100eight]

12:26 AM on 11/20/2009

Sadly, No, so very sadly ignorance is not bliss in even this case NOT. I am happy for Chaz to find himself and able to follow the path he chooses to do.
Also, being a very secure former USMC male, I witnessed my son, being gay at a very young age. His coming out wasn't a surprise, only the when. I love my son, respect who he is and what he does and am so very proud of his accomplishments; which are lofty.
When anti-abortionists stop their killings at clinics and adopt all the babies they are so concerned about, I will become PRO-LIFE.
When the anti-gay marriage people allow those marriages and the often devastating non- religious divorces that sometimes transpire; maybe soon the to be included gay married couples will bring to the table ways to spare innocent parties like the children the often found pain that many now suffer. I would join whatever group that is equal to the above.
But Stupidity, homophobic views and none thinking is a problem I find just plain abhorrent.
Chaz I salute you and wish you the best and look forward to possibly meeting you one day. You are courageous and brave to accept change and weather the storm created by stupidity.
To the dummies, get a life. Sorry. To the dummies of the world, please get a life.

[throwaway20]

05:53 AM on 11/20/2009

All life is precious and priceless and and with all due respect a little diplomacy would go a long way before resorting to ad hominem words. It should be important to note that gay is not the same as transgender for some of the reasons in my other posts. It is a wonderful thing that love has allowed you to be a tolerant, accepting, and loving father. It is with words instead of barrel of a gun or the dropping of a bomb that understanding and love will grow all over the world, including to fathers of boys in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.

[Hedgehogging]

11:46 PM on 11/19/2009

We can change our minds but not our gender.

If you want to change your sexuality, more power to you, but running out and getting modern surgical procedures to change your gender is not only unnatural but nonspiritual.

You are born into the vehicle that mother nature chose for you. Mind, body and spirit are not something you can surgically alter whenever you have a mood swing.

Americans are so screwed up! Pop some pills, cut yourself up, but god forbid dealing with the hand your dealt with, huh?

[TLV]

11:59 PM on 11/19/2009

If a person is given both sex organs by "mother nature," do you still blame them for their gender issues? Those who are born intersex usually end up being gay - or just the opposite of the sex that their parents choose for them to be. That tells me that sometimes there is a mixup while forming and that sometimes it becomes apparent when both sets of sex organs appear. I think it's possible that the same thing goes on without both sets of sex organs forming. Perhaps that's why those folks are gay.

[BlackYowe]

12:23 AM on 11/20/2009

You are right on and its only money and ego that makes all this sex change stuff mainstream. Our society has stretched itself way too far. It may bounce back like a rubber band some day when the money does not flow so easy.

[MTLAUREL]

11:37 PM on 11/19/2009

when is the book deal coming...seems like somebody who is spending a lot of time being interviewed
and photographed about basically a PRIVATE matter. Can't you just go and live your life now and end all this publicity.

[TLV]

12:00 AM on 11/20/2009

Lots and lots and lots of people have been interviewed for the same reason. There used to be many of them during the 70s and 80s, when sex change operations were just starting. You are so backward!

[Charity]

01:52 AM on 11/20/2009

read up on one of the first widely publicized gender reassignments: christine jorgensen

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_Jorgensen

and, renee richards:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9e_Richards

[MsVella]

08:21 AM on 11/21/2009

No because its comforting to other trans people to hear him speak

[HolyNation]

11:22 PM on 11/19/2009

All due respect to Chaz Bono and his decision. It's his alone to make w/ every right to do so as he pleases.

However one very significant question arises in respect to decisions of any sexual deviation, such as transsexualism, bisexuality or homosexuality or lesbianism: Whenever one has a major life issue such as sexual identity, would it not be deemed critical to investigate every single option to understand the identity crisis?? Maybe many experiencing this crisis have sought a full gamut of help, i.e., from psychologists/psychiatrists, other mental health professionals, pastors/priests, family and friends.

However, I doubt all have done so, especially given the media and, especially, Hollywood's promotion and popularity of sexually-alternative lifestyles. In nearly all instances, they are perceived as savvy and chic, such as on tv shows like Will and Grace, in movies like Brokeback Mountain and through the lives of celebrities, such as, Queen Latifa, Lindsay Lohan, Ellen DeGeneres and Rosie.

In a spiritual context, one's crisis in sexual identity may represent a crisis of a higher level that, once resolved, leads to a resolution other than that of choosing an alternative lifestyle. In other words, the sexual identity struggle may be a struggle in spirit for a different or higher calling on one's life. Spiritual insight may open eyes to an entirely different reality and fulfillment beyond sexual gratification as an end in itself. Little Richard's choice is an example of this reality.

[xstevejx]

11:26 PM on 11/19/2009

Doctors REQUIRE you to have had multiple consultations w/ mental health professionals and have a waiting period before they'll consider you for gender reassignment surgery.

[fixitfakeitcreateit]

12:24 AM on 11/20/2009

Please cite your sources.

[rzan1]

03:10 AM on 11/20/2009

Your diatribe has nothing at all to do with spirituality and everything to do with bigotry and lack of compassion. Little Richard's choice was his. Chaz has made a different choice which he has had 40 years to consider, as well as a great deal of psychotherapy before making a final decision.