HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Chastity Bono, the daughter of Cher and the late Sonny Bono, is in the early stages of transforming from a female to a male.
Bono began the sex change earlier this year after turning 40, her publicist confirmed Thursday to Us Weekly.
“Yes, it’s true — Chaz, after many years of consideration, has made the courageous decision to honor his true identity,” rep Howard Bragman told the mag in a statement. “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,” ended his statement.
While Cher struggled with her child’s sexuality years ago, the pair have since reconciled.
“I’d always had this idea that she would get married and have a family,” Cher once said.
