Growing up with a well-known parent is challenging and that’s had a big impact on Chaz Bono. Since Cher and Sonny Bono were so well-known, Chaz was born right into the public eye because he is their only child.
Since he was little, he often appeared next to his parents on their popular variety show on television. Despite his rising fame, Chaz was quietly dealing with not feeling quite right about his identity which would later result in one of the most discussed gender transitions ever in Hollywood.
For the first part of life, Chaz struggled with what defined his gender and identity. Chastity Bono was born in 1969 and the choice of name was linked to a movie his parents worked on that looked at the subject of sexuality and freedom. From a young age, Chaz did not feel the same as others her age.
Unlike his peers who cared much about crushes and what to wear, he struggled to fit in with the usual social behaviors. He realized his identity conflict around adolescence and when he was 18, he told his parents he was a lesbian. It took courage, but it also brought fresh issues for Rob, mainly with his mother, Cher.
Despite being an important role model for gay people and regularly supporting the LGBTQ community, Cher found it hard to deal with her child telling her he was gay. He has explained that when he first told his mother, she was very angry with him.
Cher herself stated she didn’t react well at first which surprised her too. Her love for Chaz came to the fore as time went by. Despite some problems early on, the couple eventually healed and soon Cher stood up publicly to support Chaz’s decisions.
Even so, there was still much more for Chaz to do. After much thought and emotional turmoil over the years, he started his transition into being identified as male at age 39. The choice was life-changing, as shown in the movie Becoming Chaz which debuted at Sundance and then was aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network.
In the movie, audiences saw how Chaz went through uncertainty, distress, positive moments and finally, gained sureness in gender identity.
His physical look was only a small aspect of the experiences he underwent. Having aligned his body and sense of self allowed him to focus on self-care which led to significant weight loss. Before he transitioned, he admitted that he was so divided from his body that looking after it seemed impossible to him. When he got his digestion under control, Chaz changed his lifestyle, dropped almost 90 pounds and felt full of energy.
The change in people also meant a renewal of his public image. His appearance on Dancing with the Stars in 2011 made him the first transgender man on the show, helping put LGBTQ+ issues in the spotlight while still making the issue feel familiar.
He then received acting jobs in series like American Horror Story: Roanoke and The Bold and the Beautiful which allowed him to be seen in different roles outside of his gender identity.
Changes in Chaz’s relationships reflected the way he was growing as a person. Jennifer was a long-term partner of his during most of his transition. They were very close, but their relationship ended when each person took separate paths. In that same year, Chaz met Shara Mathes, a social worker who used to be a child actor.
Their friends introduced them and the couple has generally tried to keep their love life private. What we see suggests a close and loving bond and this support has also been noticed by Chaz’s mother Cher and his grandmother Georgia Holt.
Life for Chaz Bono has been full of adversity. Facing public identity is not easy and the attention increases when you are the child of a well-known celebrity. However, by being truthful to himself, Chaz has made a positive difference for both himself and for many who have gone through similar things. There are changes in his mental, physical and spiritual state as he grows through the film.
What really makes Chaz’s story strong is how he has managed to start over after his transformation. He remained true to himself, changed his inner and outer self and discovered love and a reason for living. He is now seen as an example of how one can stand up for themselves, not letting others control or frighten them.
Because many still neglect or misunderstand trans people, Chaz Bono has become a strong source of support, showing that you can start living your true self at any age. Not only his past inspires us, but also the way he holds his head high and continues on.
