The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation doesn’t typically weigh in on the latest round of celebrities on Dancing with the Stars, but then it’s not every season that a transgender and an openly gay man decide to tango under the mirror ball. As a result, GLAAD lauded ABC for including Chaz Bono and Carson Kressley in the 13th season.
“With both gay and transgender contestants represented on this upcoming season, ABC will send viewers a strong message about the diversity within the LGBT community,” said Herndon Graddick, senior of director of programs for GLAAD, in a statement. “At a time when transgender representation in the media is sorely lacking, Chaz Bono joining the cast is a tremendous step forward for the public to recognize that transgender people are another wonderful part of the fabric of American culture. Appearing on such a high-profile show will allow millions of Americans to get to know him in a whole new light.”
Bono has been very candid about his gender transition from female to male. The only child of Cher and the late Sonny Bono was the subject of the recent documentary Becoming Chaz, which aired on OWN and is now up for three Emmys.
Kressley, who hosts his own show on OWN, isn’t the first openly gay man to participate on DWTS. Lance Bass, who came out in 2006, danced with pro Lacey Schwimmer in season 7. And pro Louis Amstel, who hoofed it with Kendra Wilkinson in season 12, is openly gay.
Viewers won’t learn who Bono and Kressley will dance with until Wednesday, when the pairings are announced on Good Morning America.
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I assumed they were dancing together…
is he/she going to feel herself up..lolololol
Now it’s become “Dancing With the Freaks”.
Fred – that is so narrow minded and juvenile that you should REALLY be ashamed of yourself. Transgender folks will be more accepted as part of the mainstream when bigots such as yourself just shut up and go back into your cave
Glad to see they’re bringing lesbians on the show, like Nancy Grace. Very progressive.
I”m so beyond sick of hearing what GLADD thinks about anything. Its messed up that we actually have to hear what they think. Chaz will be gone week one, and if she/he is not voted off week one it will be because the shows producers don’t want to get hit with threats or lawsuits from GLADD who shouldn’t have any power or rights to begin with.
And we are beyond hearing what DMB thinks about anything!
When special interest groups start dictating how we should feel, it’s time to get scared. Marriage rights for the few at the cost of first amendment rights for the many. Way to go, hypocrites.
who cares. Boy TV is at it lowest point now. DWTS must be desperate to get anybody that will come…what a bunch of losers.
And there is a gay judge….geez GLAAD could you be anymore useless?
Really. There have been plenty of gays on that show. Mark and Derek to name 2 more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also that Chinese bi chick. Why is this “news”??
Cuauhtli47 on December 26, 2010 how to you reprogram corontl to a diffrent tv?? i connected the satalite cable to my tv but my tv stays on fuzzy screen do i need to do the changes on reciever?? plz help
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isnt most of the male dancers…
Aren’t. Aren’t most of the male dancers…
and most of the male vieweres
Loves it!
Hilarious!!!
So is Nancy Grace not a member of that club?
I’m gay and I don’t give a sh*t
better go to the doctor.
@jessica: Hey, hope you get that Apostrophe Tourettes looked after.
yeah they have a cure……. jessica alba will straighten out any man,
Same here. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why the GAY and LESBIAN Alliance Against Defamation has anything to say about a transgendered person participating in this. And honestly, if Chaz wants to be a real role model, he should really consider dropping a few pounds.
It’s kinda like gay celebrities coming out right before their new album is released, or before a their tell-all memoir is published… they just need to remind everyone they’re still there.
Maybe Chaz wants to lose weight by being on the show? Kind of like everyone else except Bristol Palin.
Then Chaz will have to be on a least 4 seasons of this show.
Bristol Palin? Really? Are people still hung up on her?
I imagine Chaz’s weight gain is at least in part due to some of the hormone treatments he has had to undergo during his transition process.
Because GLAAD represents all people on the diversity scale. I feel it will get even better with Jenny Boylan on the board.
Then why is it called GLAAD and not APOTDSAAD?
yes I know he will drop the weight if he can hang in there,I root for him, good luck an make your folks proud.
I’m a transgender woman and aside from the fact that I don’t watch DWTS I think that you all make too much of a thing out of it. No one screamed when Lance Bass went on. No one with a brain cares about the sexual or gender orientation as long as they aren’t buffoons.
By “they” I hope you mean the mentally ill chick with an identity crisis. I think I’m Napoeon. CODDLE ME.
Is there a difference between transgender and transsexual, or are they one and the same?
Transgender means the person identifies as a different gender, and may or may not present him/herself as that gender.
Transsexual means the person has taken steps (surgery, hormones, etc.) to achieve a body that represents his/her gender. This is sometimes hard to tell just by looking at someone, and is a narrower category, which is why I believe GLAAD uses “transgender” in this statement.
And you didn’t ask, but transvestites (aka cross dressers) simply wear clothing of another gender but may or may not identify as transgender and/or transsexual.
Of course, these are just the “textbook” definitions, and individuals may identify in other ways.
End lecture.
Um no. Transexuals do not all take steps.
E – Almost dead on. Transgenders are anyone who are gender variant; which includes casual hetero cross-dressers, drag queens and kings (because women cross dress as well), and transsexuals.
Transgenders, to whatever degree, are usually satisfied with their SEXUAL ORIENTATION but like to cross the line in their GENDER REPRESENTATION.
Transsexuals are usually driven by a need to integrate their core identity (belief) with their outward appearance. This most often includes hormone therapy, living full-time in their identified gender and eventually (in many cases) Gender reassignment surgery.
dalmax –
hmm, definitions might have shifted a bit in the couple years since I learned about this in college. But I would not consider, for example, a drag king/queen to be transgender–that’s about putting on a show, not inward gender identity. Do you have a source for your definition?
(it’s nice to have a productive an informative discussion in the middle of all this hate…)
Well I guess I wont be watching this season…kind of disgusted with ABC, who says we need to accept these insane people who feel they need to change the way God made them!
The Good Lord knows I’ve prayed and prayed until my knees have callouses for Him to change me into something even closely resembling a human being, or even something with a heart, but obviously my prayers have been unanswered. Excuse me, I have to go yell at my TV again for displaying sin.
Please die.
I see you like to spend a lot of time on your knees…
Laura, I agree with you completely. TV is getting completely repulsive, too many freaks!
Go away, you bigoted, anti-gay idiot. And YOU follow Christ’s teachings? Just like those tea partiers, hypocrites. You can preach and preach all you want, but it comes down to you are all hateful people. God will get all of you for your hypocrisy.
lori?
This second posting is by someone ridiculing the first poster, “Laura Fasching”. Do people not get that?
ABC shoves this down our throats over and over again until we choke on what ABC spews out at us. What a load, ABC, but I guess that’s just the tip of things. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Also, I enjoy penis.
Read between the lines people!! The casting is a “stroke” of genius, I’m sure the new “members” will “dive deep” within themselves what’s really in there. It’ll be a “load” of fun, spewing forth great entertainment. By the way, they’ll keep “shoving it down your throat” as long as you keep “taking it.” Jeex…can we move on now. Gay people have been around since time began, you’re just seeing them know because they don’t give a crap anymore what morons think. So penis-lover Laura, repp22, I’m afraid the repulsive freaks (unless tou’re referring to Nancy Grace) aren’t going anywhere because, like it or not, God included that in his “intelligent design.” Now Laura, go take a pill. Or a bottle if available…
GAY IS GLORIOUS!
I enjoy penis, also.
Freaks.
We need to accept Laura Fasching for what she is: someone in desperate need of a lay.
Agree 100%
good luck Laura..I have a feeling your gonna need it
intelligent design has nothing to do with gay, lesbian trans …..born into sin does and free will does
Actually, I thought you were going to say, “We need to accept Laura Fasching for what she is: a troll”. Or am I the only one who thinks that’s pretty much obvious?
judge not lest ye be judged
Laura, you shouldn’t speak about Nancy Grace like that. Yes, she’s nuts but she deserves all the opportunities that we sane people get.
“Change the way God made me”?!?!? Do you feel the same disgust for pretty much everyone else on TV who has surgically altered their faces through plastic surgery? You must go into a homicidal religious rage during awards show season!
Personally, I have way more respect for transgendered people than I do for people who surgically alter their bodies just for vanity’s sake.
To say nothing of cutting your hair, dyeing your hair, cutting your nails. All changes to how God made you.
Dude, it’s “Dancing with the Stars” – The gayest tv show EVER! If you’re homophobic you should have never watched it in the first place!!!
In the Gospel according to Matthew 7:
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
You’re a great example of a good C’hristian. WTG
I’m sure that ABC won’t miss you. You can instead watch reruns of the Hour of Power.
Do people really not get that the second “Laura Fasching” is someone making fun of her first statement?
SOAS007 on April 14, 2011 @maciejadams a little worry that this song is irmomal no it isn’t. It just points out the hypocricy of those that play the race card, for nothing, and those that take offence at everything, trying to stop free speach.
I can’t get on board with people who mutilate their own bodies. And before anyone says anything, that includes more common types of plastic surgery like boob jobs and whatnot.
Irrelevant.
Yes Zach, you’re right. You are irrelevant.
And dental fillings.
Rubeus – This is a little beyond cosmetic procedures. We do this because as life drags on we become so distanced from the rest of society, including friends and family, that suicide starts to look good. It is a long and difficult process and you really have to be nuts to do this on a whim. So please…….don’t judge those of us who have reached a point where it’s an either/or proposition.
But if you really don’t know much about transgenders or transsexuals then anything you say is basically more emotional than factual. Get out more often; we are all around you.
This is an ellecxent initiative the discourse need to be about making *our* society more inclusive as a whole rather than addressing GLBT issues as if they exist in a box. As long as gays and lesbians are ghettoized, true equality and acceptance will remain out of reach.
Don’t forget Margaret Cho. She’s bisexual but married to a man.
Um………who cares.
Pretend there is a question mark at the end,lol.
Um, no!
Pretend there is a space between the comma and the lol.
Bravo, DWTS. Now, maybe Ann Coulter and Marcus Bachmann will get their chances in future seasons.
yeah, maybe we’ll even get a season finale where Anne Coulter dances off a cliff into a woodchipper!
What the hell happenned to, “Judge not lest ye be judged”? Can’t have it both ways.
Tom DeLay was already on the show, and lasted longer than he should have – he was atrocious.
whatever will probable be the first one voted off.
I assumed the openly gay man was nancy grace.
LOL!!!
Win!
Well, they have a very loose definition of “star.” I get the feeling when Nancy Grace and the Kardashian come out, it will have a loose definition of “dancing” too.
Nasty,hateful people, all of you. But on a personal note, I applaud someone such as Chaz to follow what his/her heart dictates, but I really don’t want to see he/her on DWTS. Carson is fine but not Chaz. Should have waited for a few years. But TV rat ings are tv ratings and Chaz will bring them in, if anything just out of curiousity.
Why the heck not? You are deciding when he is safe for public appearances but you call others nasty hateful people. You are a moron.