Chaz Bono will be making history on Dancing With the Stars 2011 season 13 by being the first transgender contestant. Not everyone, however, is all that pleased with the decision to cast Chaz Bono on the show. Even here on our on website, the comments have included some unpleasant responses to the casting news.
“Why oh why would the show cast Chaz Bono? Of all the people in the world I know you could have come up with someone that has not done what he/she did. It is immoral and wrong, wrong, wrong to have someone like that anywhere near the public,” commenter ‘carolyn and paul lupo’ posted on our site. Another commenter, ‘Tom’, simply posted: “Our family will not be watching this season.”
An organization called One Million Moms is asking people to “email ABC Network and let them know that we will not tolerate these subjects being forced into our homes.” A post on the group’s website says the casting of Chaz Bono and Carson Kressley (from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) “is completely unacceptable and Christians should not watch the show, no excuses!”
Some may not be pleased with the decision to cast Chaz Bono on the show, but his Dancing With the Stars season 13 partner is. “I was absolutely thrilled. I’ve always been a huge supporter of the LGBT community and I couldn’t be more excited to have Chaz. Not only is he Sonny & Cher’s child but he’s also a generally cool person,” Lacey Schwimmer told TheInsider.com.
Chaz Bono’s mom, the legendary Cher, is also riled up about all the negativity toward her offspring’s casting on season 13 of DWTS. “Chaz is Being Viciously Attacked on Blogs & Message boards about being on DWTS!” Cher posted on Twitter. “This is Still America right? It took guts 2 do it.”
Cher encouraged fans to go out and show their support of Chaz wherever they could. “Can u guys check out sites & give him your support ? BTW …Mothers don’t stop Getting angry with stupid bigots who fk with their children!”
Not only does Cher think Chaz belongs on the show, she thinks he will become a fan favorite. She said on Twitter that she would “bet VAST MAJORITY of People will LOVE CHAZ on DWTS! … it’s took Fkg Guts 2! Chaz isn’t exactly the ‘Gotta Dance Gotta Dance’ kinda Guy.”
Chaz Bono thanked mom Cher for her support via Twitter last night, saying: “Thanks for all your support mom. The haters are just motivating me to work harder and stay on DWTS as long as I possibly can.”
Go Chaz! Ok ok, this controversy has motivated me to just get over my personal Nancy Grace boycott. I’ll watch the show for Chaz, for sure! And thanks to tivo, I don’t have to watch that nancy woman at all!
Don’t listen to the “haters”, there are plenty of people that will support you & the show in it’s 13th season. Chaz, you inspire me to carry on despite/in spite the negative feedback.
Shouldn’t transgender individuals be praised for their decision in terms of commitment?