[size=18pt]Call me Chaz, says Cher's girl who is undergoing a sex change[/size]

Cher's daughter is undergoing a sex change to become a man.

Chastity Bono, 40, the singer's only daughter, started the process earlier this year and wants to be called Chaz.

Referring to his client as 'he', publicist Howard Bragman said: 'Chaz, after many years of consideration, has made the courageous decision to honour his true identity.

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^{Identity crisis . . . Chaz}[/center]
'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.'

Miss Bono, 40, whose father is Cher's late ex-husband Sonny Bono, came out as a lesbian at age 18, when she was studying at New York University.

While Sonny was more accepting, Cher reacted badly.

The 63-year-old star has admitted: 'I flipped out. I'd always had this idea that she would get married and have a family.'

Distraught by her mother's reaction, Miss Bono abandoned her studies to attempt a rock career.

Her sexuality was announced to the world in an American newspaper in 1990.

Five years later she appeared on the front cover of gay magazine The Advocate, describing herself as 'out at last', and became a vocal advocate of gay and transgendered rights.

Changing gender typically involves hormone therapy and sometimes, but not always, some surgical alteration.
Gay leaders yesterday hailed Miss Bono's decision to have a sex change as courageous.

Neil Giuliano, president of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, said: '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 fair-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.'

Miss Bono, who appeared with her parents on their early 1970s TV series The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, has had a famously fraught relationship with her mother.

The pair fell out over her 1998 tell-all book Family Outing, which revealed details of their troubled relationship.

In it Miss Bono claimed she incurred Cher's wrath from an early age by wearing tomboy clothes and refusing to invite girls to her birthday parties.

She said her mother terrified her and sent her to a series of psychiatrists. Miss Bono also revealed that her mother once caught her in a clinch with a female college friend, but refused to accept that her daughter might be gay.

And when Cher found out her daughter was a lesbian she apparently ordered her out of her New York apartment and told her to 'see a shrink'.

In a later interview she said: 'My mum did not comfort me with kisses and cuddles. It was not the family way.'

Miss Bono's rock career sank, with her band Ceremony splitting up in 1993 after their debut album flopped.

She also failed as a film producer and became a recluse, battling an addiction to the painkiller OxyContin which saw her attend rehab in 2004.

She has also battled with her weight. After ballooning to 21stone she appeared on the U.S. version of the TV show Celebrity Fit Club.

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^{Family ties: Chastity and her mother Cher in Hollywood last year}[/center]
In recent years, Miss Bono and her mother have put aside their differences and improved their relationship.

Sonny Bono, who split with Cher in 1974, died in a skiing accident in 1998.

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oh well.

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^{Chastity in '93 
and today Miss Bono is well on her way to becoming Mr Bono}[/center]

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. . . still a camel? ^{scratching head}

Not familiar with that slang . . .

What's it means or suppose to mean please? ". . . still a camel"?

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Ah-ha! ^bing!

Gotcha! Now witcha . . . 

Comprehende' !

Muncho gracias! bella!! for clearing that up . . .

She looks like a man to me already!!

we dont give a hoot!
chastity, chaz or cha, dats his/her problem
these celebrities have lost it, thats wat happens when u r not worrying about nepa, no water or petrol queues plus a govt dat doesnt give a f**k bout its ppl!

More power to her tho. . . . .she looks like shes as though as nails!!

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Toughness probably came from momma's gene

Yeah Cher's a tough gal. . . . .she been around for a while. . . . rumors, rehab. . . and all. . . .shes an ICON, luv her!!

yeah but she should lose some weight. her style reminds me of ellen degeneres

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I recall someone called her Ellen Degenerate when she "came out"

whoever called her that is a meanie

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Have a feeling you know who called her that . . . ^{Jerry Falwell called her "Ellen Degenerate"}

who is jerry falwell never heard of him

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Hmm yummy!

That cake is giving me the munchings . . .

Sorry for the distraction

Jerry is deceased

Died two years ago at the age of 73