Chaz Bono
As Chaz Bono slowly skipped his way through the quick-step on Dancing with the Starts earlier this week, I thought to myself, “Wow… there is a trans-man on Dancing with the Stars”. For me it was a proud moment, but for others it was a moment of utter disgust. It was also a moment that some would never witness because they vowed not to watch the show for as long as he is a part of it.
What to tell the kids about Chaz has been a big concern for many. Whether or not you accept the LGBTQ lifestyle, you must acknowledge that it exists. It is a reality, and a part of good parenting is making your children AWARE of the world they live in. In these troubled times having uncomfortable conversations with your children should be the least worrisome of your parental duties. In a world riddled with crime, drugs, rape, abuse and HATRED, explaining to your child that Chaz Bono was born a girl shouldn’t be a brow furrower.
In an article written by Juju Chang for abcnews.go.com, she consulted with gender expert Michelle Angello on the topic of discussing transexuality with children. The following is an excerpt from her article/interview with Angello.
For instance, when a man is transitioning to become a woman — as was the case with transgender mom Chloe Prince, whom I once profiled for “Primetime” — Angello recommended telling an 8-year-old that Prince “used to be a man on the outside and she had a woman on the inside and she needed to let the woman on the inside out.”
Most kids that age, she said, will say, “OK, that makes sense.”
Gender identity issues, she said, can actually be less confusing for kids than for adults.
When Chaz finally stopped moving his two left feet all over the stage, he left me with one thought… there is no part of his being that resembles or exudes the natural essence of a woman.
I thought of the many torturous years he spent concealing his true identity. It was a very exciting moment to see him in all his glory, on national television, as his true self… a man.
