Chaz Bono signs high six figure deal for memoir

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Chaz Bono is currently undergoing the transition from female to male. Chaz, 40, is the once-daughter of Cher and Sonny Bono and was featured on their variety show as a young girl. He announced plans in June to become male, stating through a representative that he would “honor his true identity” after “many years of consideration.” Chaz is thought to be engaged to his girlfriend of several years, Jennifer Elia, and the two are rumored to be planning children through invitro treatments for Jennifer.

According to TMZ, Chaz has received a six figure deal for a memoir detailing his life and focusing on his gender transition:

Coming soon to a New York Times Bestseller list near you — the memoir of Chaz Bono.

TMZ has learned Bono sold the rights to a book chronicling his decision to transition from a female to a male. According to a publishing source, Bono signed “a handsome, six-figure deal.”

The book, tentatively titled “Coming Clean,” will be published by Dutton sometime in Spring 2011.

[From TMZ.com]

In June, the entertainment editor of The Advocate, Corey Scholibo, told Good Morning America that Chaz could become the most famous face of the transgender movement. “I think that he is going to be the most public face of the transgender community… For America, and for the world it will shed light on a community I don’t think they are all that familiar with and don’t really know that much about.” Chaz’s book could help a lot of us understand what it’s like to be trapped in a gender that doesn’t match our identity and how difficult it must be to come to terms with that and live authentically. There were stories in July that Chaz was considering some kind of reality show chronicling his transition and given all the pitfalls of that genre I’m glad we haven’t heard much more about that. This book could be a best seller for sure, and could go a long way toward helping people understand what it’s like to be transgendered. I only wonder why Chaz didn’t get a seven figure advance given the interest this book is sure to generate.

Chaz Bono is shown out getting subway on 9/17/09. Eat Fresh, Chaz! Credit: O’Duran/Fame Pictures

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26 Responses to “Chaz Bono signs high six figure deal for memoir”

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  1. Firestarter says:

    God, I hate it when men wear those shoes/sandals, whatever they are. Curse Nike for ever having made such things!

    My ex had a pair, and when it was all said and done, the best part of the break-up was throwing those things in the trash.

  2. Tazina says:

    He’s an unhealthy weight. Just make small changes my doctor said and you can lose weight. Like cut out the butter, peanut butter and cheese from your diet. Put milk in your coffee instead of cream. It all adds up.

  3. Lem says:

    lol my husband wears those shorts nearly everyday.
    His sandals however come with this great ‘squeak-squeak-squeak’ when he walks. I can’t tell you how many pair of sandals I’ve bought trying to replace those.’squeak’sqeak’ GRRR

    That is the unhappiest pic I have ever seen of Chaz. I hope things are as he wished

  4. Jag says:

    I agree that he should’ve been given a seven-figure deal, especially with how famous he is. Hopefully, he gets a portion of the sales as well.

  5. crash2GO2 says:

    Chaz needs to take better care of himself.

  6. gg says:

    “Made in China” 😆

  7. teehee says:

    The weight could easily be related to the trnsition and havin to mess with your hormones. That always influences water retention, appetite and metabolism in a major way.

  8. barneslr says:

    Yeah, but he’s been very heavy all of his adult life. He’ll have to have GI bypass surgery before the gender reassignment, so hopefully we’ll be seeing a much healthier Chaz soon.

    I can see writing a book, but I’m really hoping the whole reality show idea is dead. That’s just an awful, terrible idea.

  9. Ellen Smith says:

    It’s a good thing he’s transitioning. As a woman he would have been extremely unattractive.

  10. the original kate says:

    ugh – i hate those plastic sandals, too. the only place he should wear them is in the shower at the gym.

  11. Cinderella says:

    No disrespect to Chaz but that Subway bag looks loaded down.

  12. Alexa says:

    All the best Chaz!

  13. JuneJulyAugust says:

    I really hope that through this process he really takes the transition counseling to heart. Weight problems (over or under) are often an emotional issue that needs to be treated as well. While becoming a man physically may help him in that regard I suspect there are other issues there. No matter what I wish him the best.

  14. BEEBEEC says:

    Cher was an abandoning, super baaaad mom.. chasing fame and fortune and sex with creeps.

  15. kate says:

    “He” is a “she” and no amount of political correctness is going to change it. And even if Chasity mutilates herself by cutting off her breasts and adding a manufactured penis, it still doesn’t make her a man. I’m not trying to be cruel, I feel sorry for anyone that’s uncomfortable with themselves but really, this make believe world of homogenizing reality is just too much. What have we become as a society, it’s frightening.

  16. JaneL says:

    Wow Kate you are a disgusting person. Who’s business is it of yours to decide what someone should do with their life?

  17. Shannon says:

    Jane, who are you to tell him what he is or is not? Do you know him personally? Do you have any idea what he’s been through, or how he feels?

    No. You don’t. So it’s not your place to judge him or deny him his identity.

  18. kate says:

    JaneL:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 5:36 pm
    “Wow Kate you are a disgusting person. Who’s business is it of yours to decide what someone should do with their life?”
    ———————————————
    Uh, helloooo? Janet??? are you there???
    Where does it say ANYWHERE in my post that I’m telling HER what to do with her life? Get a grip! It’s my opinion and just like everyone else here I’m entitled to it so take your meds and piss off.

  19. Tequana Zombini says:

    Agree with Kate.

    The decision to have the surgery and behave as male is certainly her own, but she will remain a surgically-altered, hormone-enhanced woman.

    What business is it of ours? Good question. You should ask her, and her publicist, and her publisher – all those people who choose to make it our business.

  20. Tequana Zombini says:

    Also, the post-declaration-of-maleness weight gain cant be healthy, hope she can get this under control once she gets to a more peaceful place emotionally & physically – not sure if there’s any more surgery planned

  21. Emily says:

    @Kate, gender dysmorphia is a real disorder where a person’s sex (what parts they have) doesn’t match their gender (the person inside). Most of us are lucky enough to have our sex and gender match up. Trans people do not. Please respect the person, and don’t just see them as a set of genitalia.

  22. Hieronymus Grex says:

    Hate to burst anyone’s bubble here, but THAT is not a man and I will not call her a ‘him’ to soothe the masses, or to deepen the myth otherwise. That is a surgically altered woman with gender and body issues, who couldn’t bear to live with herself as a lesbian let alone as the daughter of Cher Bono. This will not help Chastity Bono, only the ability to accept herself will.

  23. mags says:

    m’eh let the haters hate. i hope this brings serenity and happiness to Chaz and his partner. and a way to help others who are think they might be the only one who was born w/ just a few parts out of place.
    Emily, good point: “don’t just see them as a set of genitalia”
    trust me, a penis does not a man make, even if you were born with one

  24. LIllyAnn says:

    There’s nothing that so often seems to go with a narrow mind as a wide mouth, huh? Let Chaz be who he really is and be happy for him and his family. Who here would accept someone else s definition of their life? Always define yourself!!

    He has courage and I wish him the best. You can’t control the length of your life, but you can control its use. You can’t control the weather, but you can control the moral atmosphere that surrounds you. SO let him 🙂

    Those of you judging and hating: love what is don’t hate what’s not. There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up. It’s never too late to have a life and never too late to change one. He has chosen to change his. Those of us who are lifting the world upward and onward are those who encourage more than criticize. Those of you who continue to hate, remember Karma escapes no one and does not discriminate.

  25. Uncle Bob says:

    The real issue here is that society expectes everyone to fit into some male/female slot – It’s a choice of A or B. But, If you try to fit between in an attempt become comfortable with yourself your often deemed a freak.

    The result of this is a taking a chance with hormones (that can do major organ damage, esp to the heart) or dangerous surgery. My partner is a professional therapist, dealing with gender issues, he’s found that a very large percentage of people who do gender reassignment surgery aren’t happy with the results as they really aren’t specifically one gender or another in their minds.

    It’s unfortunate that we live in such a puritanical society that doesn’t allow people the social freedom to live as they choose. Many transsexuals find they are happiest living as another gender, but having their original body parts.

    What’s wrong with allowing a man to feel feminine or a woman to feel masculine? Who does it harm?

  26. Emily says:

    @Uncle Bob, I completely agree. I have two trans friends, one of whom has finished transitioning. He had a double masectomy, but didn’t get a penis created, and has had to put up with people asking him when he’s going to “finish his surgery”. He doesn’t need to “finish” anything to anyone’s standards but his own.