Chaz Bono
As a public figure who transitioned, he transformed his personal journey into a powerful force for LGBTQ+ visibility and advocacy.
Born 1969 (age 57)·American writer, musician and actor·Birthday: March 4·Generation X
Biography
Chaz Bono grew up in the relentless glare of Hollywood, a cherubic fixture on his famous parents' variety show. For years, the public knew him as Chastity Bono, a name that came to symbolize a private struggle with identity played out in tabloid headlines. His path to self-realization was a public one, documented in books and films that chronicled his transition. By choosing to share this process, he moved from being a celebrity child to a pivotal advocate. His work with organizations like the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and his candid writings provided a roadmap and a point of identification for countless transgender individuals and their families at a time when such representation was scarce. His appearances on shows like 'Dancing with the Stars' were not mere reality TV stints; they were acts of normalization, bringing a transgender man's experience into millions of living rooms with dignity and quiet strength. His advocacy shifted the cultural conversation, making him a significant, if unlikely, architect of greater understanding.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Chaz was born in 1969, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chaz Was Born
The biggest hits of 1969
#1 Movie
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Best Picture
Midnight Cowboy
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Chaz's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1969Born
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1974Started school
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1982Became a teenager
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Could drive
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1987Could vote
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Turned 21
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1999Turned 30
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 40
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 50
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 57 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became one of the most visible transgender men in America following his public transition, documented in the film 'Becoming Chaz.'
- Authored several books, including 'Family Outing' and 'Transition,' which explore his personal journey and offer guidance.
- Served as the Entertainment Media Director for GLAAD, advocating for accurate LGBTQ+ representation in media.
- Was a contestant on 'Dancing with the Stars,' using the platform to increase transgender visibility in mainstream entertainment.
Did You Know?
He is the only child of Sonny Bono and Cher.
He appeared in the film 'The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love' in 1995.
He was a contributor to the anthology book 'Freeing the Creative Spirit.'
His godmother is actress Diana Ross.
“The most important thing you can do for yourself is to be true to who you are.”
