Chaz Bono: 'Gender is Between Your Ears, Not Your Legs'

Chaz Bono appeared on Good Morning America this morning to discuss his transition from female to male. GMA looks at his transformation from his first appearance on The Sonny and Cher Show.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Cher and Christina Aguilera to Co-Star in Strip Tease Musical Film

Cher and Christina Aguilera are set to star in Burlesque, Variety reports:

"In what will be her first movie star role in a decade, Cher is set to join Christina Aguilera in 'Burlesque,' a contemporary musical for Screen Gems. Steven Antin will direct from a script he wrote that was revised by Susannah Grant. Aguilera will play an ambitious small-town Iowa girl with a big voice who comes of age in a neo-burlesque club on Sunset Boulevard that’s run by Tess (Cher), a former dancer who struggles to keep the club open and gives the young girl a chance to shine. Cher will sing onscreen. While her voice has been heard in many films, 'Burlesque' will mark the first time she’ll be seen singing in a film she stars in. Cher last starred in 'Tea With Mussolini' in 1999.  "

Cher Releases Statement in Support of Chaz Bono's Transition

Following last week's news about Chastity Bono beginning a gender transition and her identification as 'Chaz' Bono, many were wondering what Cher thought about all of it.

Said Cher in a statement yesterday:

"She is embarking on a difficult journey, but one that I will support. I respect the courage it takes to go through this transition in the glare of public scrutiny. Although I may not understand, I will strive to be understanding. The one thing that will never change is my abiding love for my child."

Chastity Bono Becoming a Man, Begins Gender Transition

Chastity Bono, who came out as a lesbian at 18 in 1987 and was outed publicly by Star magazine three years later, is transitioning from female to male, his publicist said today.

TMZ reports:

"Bono, the child of legendary entertainers Sonny and Cher, began the process earlier this year, shortly after his 40th birthday. 'Yes, it's true -- Chaz, after many years of consideration, has made the courageous decision to honor his true identity,' confirmed Bono's publicist, Howard Bragman. '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. We ask that the media respect Chaz's privacy during this long process as he will not be doing any interviews at this time.'"

GLAAD's President Neil Giuliano issued the following statement: “Chaz Bono's decision to live his life authentically represents an important step forward, both for him personally and for all who are committed to advancing discussions about fairness and equality for transgender people. Coming out as transgender is an extremely personal decision and one that is never made lightly. We look forward to hearing Chaz's story in his own words in the future. GLAAD encourages media outlets to cover this story accurately, and to avoid speculation about the details of Chaz’s story before he is ready to share them."

6.12 NOTE and UPDATE: After reading and being disturbed by many of the transphobic comments on this thread, I'd like to say that Towleroad does not condone them and I suggest that some of the commenters here educate themselves more fully on trans issues. Because we have a very open commenting system (which may soon be changing) we can also not fully monitor everything going on on our site all the time. Presently, we rely on our readers to inform us and patrol these areas, and thank you. It's also important to remember that this makes it possible for many of commenters who are not friends to the LGBT community to express their views here. Please try to keep your conversations civil, and please, please do not feed the trolls.

News: YouTube Porn, Atlanta, Francis Bacon, Illinois, Cher

Illinois to pass civil unions next week?

Congressman Howard Berman, who said earlier this week that he expected action soon on LGBT issues within the State Department, suggests that more is to come from the White House in June: "I think the White House is preparing to make an announcement on a number of issues. I’m predicting here, not informing, that by the Stonewall anniversary we will have a very clear picture of what the administration is doing.

Tim Gunn makes leap to comic books.

Cher and Christina Aguilera to star in film together?

Openly gay activist and lobbyist Pat Steadman wins Colorado state senate race: "The special election was open only to members of the Colorado Democratic Party. The vacancy came after openly lesbian Senator Jennifer Veiga resigned the seat to move to Australia with her partner and her partner's family. Veiga was the first openly gay member elected to the Colorado General Assembly, and Steadman is now the first openly gay man to serve in the Colorado State Senate."

Tom Cruise and son appear in public together.

Bordeaux: short film features 15,000 still images of Zachary Quinto.

Prominent Canadian architect Arthur Erickson has died at 84. He came out in 2006 in this profile.

Dead finback whale washes ashore in Provincetown.

New Hampshire marriage equality all about compromise: "Rep. Jim Splaine, prime sponsor of the main gay marriage bill, said Thursday that advocates will use the next two weeks to educate lawmakers about the religious protections Lynch wants. 'The governor's made it clear he wants to stick to the core principles he's offered,' said Splaine, D-Portsmouth. 'We can do this.'"

Mariah Carey announces the name of her new album on Twitter.

Retrospective: If paintings had voices Francis Bacon's would shriek. "Bacon specialized in blur and atmosphere; he captured the tumult of homosexual sex in motion by borrowing from photographs, film stills or images of other art, conveying a sense of athleticism and sweat, violence and tenderness, furtiveness and shame. Homosexual sex was a criminal act in Britain, where he lived most of his life, well into the 1960s."

ABC News picks up story of Miss California Carrie Prejean's lesbian mom.

Gay rights group says Catholic Diocese of Maine is violating tax laws by funding anti-gay campaign.

YouTube hit by porn attack: "Video-sharing website YouTube has removed hundreds of pornographic videos which were uploaded in what is believed to be a planned attack. The material was uploaded under names of famous teenage celebrities such as Hannah Montana and Jonas Brothers. Many started with footage of children's videos before groups of adults performing graphic sex acts appeared on screen. YouTube owner Google said it was aware and addressing the problem."

Former spokesman for Portland Mayor Sam Adams talks about why he left.

Disney World to feature animatronic Obama.

A lusty gallery of Kellan Lutz photos.

Zona Rosa: Gays find acceptance in Mexico City. "It's really hard to be gay in the smaller, more conservative states within Mexico. I moved to Zona Rosa not just for my career but also for a chance to finally try and be accepted within my community."

Picking up dog crap makes George W. Bush realize he's a real person again.

Atlanta mayoral candidates speak to LGBT voters: "The candidates gathered for a forum of about 150 people held at the Amsterdam Cafe in Midtown. Mayor Shirley Franklin, a two-term incumbent, is prohibited from running for a third consecutive term. Several candidates stressed their past achievements and support for the city’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. One out of every seven Atlantans is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, community advocates say. The community has become an influential force in city politics, particularly in neighborhoods near downtown."

News: Cher, New England, Richard Gasquet, Space Shuttle Atlantis

Allen Andrade gets life sentence plus 60 years for Angie Zapata murder.

Cher turns back time to get back into black bodysuit.

Gay athletes to get 'Pride' safe house at 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Just Jared interviews Katy Perry.

Actor Steve Gideon dies at 52: "Gideon died May 1 at his West Hollywood home of complications from colon cancer, said Bernard Vyzga, his longtime companion...musical theater career included staging and starring in the first authorized gay version of Stephen Sondheim's 'Marry Me a Little'."

Maine Catholic Bishop Richard Malone calls same-sex marriage "a dangerous sociological experiment."

Why so many marriage equality advances in New England? "Liberal politics clearly plays a part, but the reasons for the rapid transformation are more finely shaded than simple blue-state, red-state color coding, according to analysts. The distinctive thinking of religious New Englander... their view of religion as private and personal, and their separation of their own beliefs from politics - has enabled change, said Mark Silk, a professor of religion in public life at Trinity College in Hartford."

Five years on: Same-sex marriage debate fades in Massachusetts.

Tennis pro Richard Gasquet tests positive for cocaine.

Male model fix: David Gandy.

Space Shuttle Arlantis reaches orbit on dangerous Hubble mission: "Five spacewalks will be needed to accomplish everything. The work is so tricky and intricate that two of the repairmen are Hubble veterans, John Grunsfeld and Michael Massimino. Grunsfeld, the chief repairman, is making an unprecedented third trip to the telescope. Altman, the commander, also has previously flown to the telescope.""

Two men sought in Madison, Wisconsin gay bashing, the second in as many weeks.

Hungary to allow domestic partnerships for gays and lesbians: "The official bulletin says a new law will allow the partnership if both partners are at least 18 years old. The law will prohibit same-sex couples from adopting children together, but will require partners to provide care for each other’s children from earlier relationships if the children are recognized as belonging to the partnership."

Damien Hirst retrospective opens in Kiev.

Australian man describes escape after 4-meter shark attacked his dinghy.

New 'Montauk monster' washes up on Southhold, Long Island.

Citizens gather in Grifton, North Carolina to discuss concerns about same-sex marriage.

Megan Fox says High School Musical is really about a coach who molests his basketball team.

Students protest school's report to parents of student's same-sex kiss after it was captured on school surveillance video: "The controversy arose after the school's dean of students, Keith Nelson, saw the two kissing and holding hands and found video of it on the surveillance system. He showed it to the parents of one of the girls because they had asked to be kept apprised of her behavior. The parents moved the girl to a different school district after watching it."