Chaz Bono Granted Name and Gender Change

By PopEater Staff Posted May 6th 2010 02:51PM

It's official: Following gender-reassignment surgery last year, Chaz Bono is legally a man. A Santa Monica judge on Thursday granted Bono's request to change his name from Chastity to Chaz and to switch his gender identification to male.

Bono was represented in court by attorney Kristina Wertz of the Transgender Law Center, who said her client "couldn't be happier."

"This is an important step in his transition and will allow him to change a variety of his identity documents to show who he truly is," Wertz said in a statement following the court visit.

The 41-year-old writer-activist, born Chastity Sun Bono to Sonny and Cher, told PEOPLE back in December that the gender-change process had been exhilarating.

"It's hard for me to articulate how this feels -- when you've lived your whole life in a body and having everybody relate to you as something you don't feel," Bono said. "When that finally gets righted, it's just amazing. I finally get to live my life the way I've always wanted to."

Bono has a long-time girlfriend, Jennifer Elia, and even appeared on 'Celebrity Fit Club' in 2006.

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Chaz Bono Shots

Chaz Bono is taped by documentary film makers as he arrives to the Santa Monica Courthouse to formally ask a judge to change his name and gender following his 2009 sex change. More Photos >>

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Chaz Bono Snapshots

FILE - In this April 7, 1998 file photo, Chastity Bono is shown in Palm Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Susan Sterner, file)

Chaz Bono Snapshots

SANTA MONICA, CA - MAY 6: Chaz Bono arrives to the Santa Monica Courthouse to formally ask a judge to change his name and gender following his 2009 sex change surgery, on May 6, 2010 in Santa Monica, California. Chaz, born to Sonny and Cher Bono in 1969, and named Chastity Sun Bono, wants to be known as Chaz Salvatore. The name Chastity came from the title of the 1969 film Cher made with her first husband Sonny, who died in a skiing accident in 1998. Chaz revealed his gender reassignment surgery last June. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Chaz Bono Snapshots

SANTA MONICA, CA - MAY 6: Chaz Bono is taped by documentary film makers as he arrives to the Santa Monica Courthouse to formally ask a judge to change his name and gender following his 2009 sex change surgery, on May 6, 2010 in Santa Monica, California. Chaz, born to Sonny and Cher Bono in 1969, and named Chastity Sun Bono, wants to be known as Chaz Salvatore. The name Chastity came from the title of the 1969 film Cher made with her first husband Sonny, who died in a skiing accident in 1998. Chaz revealed his gender reassignment surgery last June. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Chaz Bono Snapshots

Tags: chaz bono

Comments

(155)

Thursday 06 May

By Graydon

Vote down Vote up Report this

Just proves what an ignoramous you are. Get a life, Ken.

By bublerocks

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Who cares... It is his life and his alone. It does not matter what people think.

By Sunni

What does Chaz do for a living?

By Mr. Leo

I was wondering the same thing. Writer/Activist? What is that? Sounds like code for "Lives off Cher's Money".

By Eric

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Transitioning is tough. And I wish him well. But, he still looks like a Large lesbian.

By rcroteau

OK good I am glad "Chaz" is happy but I don't get it. Before the change she was gay and therefore prefered woman so she was gay. Now she is a he and is still gay so now does he prefer men

By GM

Sorry Chaz, your not a male no matter how hard you want to try to be one! Your chromosomes give you away! Its a shame that the press continues to say that she is a he! WRONG! Once a woman always a woman, once a man, always a man! This is what's wrong with this world!

By Andi

She's a man in her mind only. Get some help!

By Linda

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

SHE looks RIDICULOUS. SHE can PRETEND to be a man, but she IS still a WOMAN. HOW RIDICULOUS IS THIS?! IT IS RIDICULOUS. SHE IS A WOMAN BY GENETICS AND CHROMOSONES AND ALL THAT GARBAGE AND YOU CANNOT CHANGE THAT. SHE IS NOTHING BUT FAT AND DISGUSTING. SORRY, BUT IF THE SHOE FITS SHE CAN WEAR IT!

By parrothead

It's as gross as a man as it was as a woman!

By rb

I hope she is happy and that I never hear or see it again ever..WE DON"T CARE!!!

By eve

KEN I AGREE WITH YOU .. ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS CHROMOSONE TEST. A MAN BORN A MAN WILL ALWAYS BE A MAN . A WOMAN BORN A WOMAN NO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES WILL BE A WOMAN..

By csi8299

I agree; and by LAW OF NATURE men desire women and women desire men. Anything else defies nature and is unacceptable. However, this is America and everyone can do as he or she pleases. Just keep your "preferences" and "perversions" to yourself please, and I will give my life to support your right to live as you see fit.

By Maxwell

It is not hate to say this person was born a female. God decided that...Nature decided that...Biology decided that. Frankly I am getting tired of people always screaming HATE if your views are not like some? Hate Speech and Hate Crimes unfortunately exist. If people always cry wolf if anyone dares to just disagree with gender changing (in this case), when real Hate occurs....Anyone remember the story about the boy who cried wolf?

By Sandy

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Amen, Ken. God is very clear about the immoral sins of homosexuality. She may think she is a guy but God made her a female. He will alone judge her. There are many verses in the Bible against homosexuality. We do not need for those who practice this immoral ungodly sin to be forced in our face as normal. Chastity need to have counseling as why she thinks he needs to be a man. It is a mental disturbance of identity and not natural (Roman 1 1:18-32. Our bodies belong to Jesus Christ and God alone and to defile it in sexual sin is abomination. It is not different than a prostitute, pervert, or pedophile.

Friday 07 May

By Robyn

Good Luck Chaz, Be Happy!

By K

"IT" looks like it's neck threw up .

By dot

God don't make mistakes. Plain and simple

By Shirley

You say that god does not make mistakes? Then explain to me why he made murderers, rapists, pedophiles, child abusers, Why there are missing children in the world, why there are children with no food, no shelter, Yet you claim that god does not make mistakes. From what I have read on this post there is too much hatred for Chaz, for what he has done. what he did is a personal thing. It does not affect you, nor does it affect me. If he is happy with himself, then that is what matters to him and him only. One person wrote what would it be like to raise a daughter to find out you he wanted to be a son. Simple Its Called "Unconditional Love and Support for your Child" ever heard of it?

By Debie

the majority of responses on here are so negative and full of hate and hide behind the bible. If Chaz is happy with his changes and the family if in support, then the rest of you need to step off and get your own life in order. Im sure your bible doesn't support hatred, or maybe it does.

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