Chaz Bono

Chaz Bono is an American writer, actor, and advocate — the child of Cher and Sonny Bono — who came out publicly as lesbian in 1995 and announced in June 2009 that he is a transgender man, becoming one of the most prominent trans men in American public life. His transition was documented in Becoming Chaz (2011), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and won a GLAAD Media Award for outstanding documentary. As the first openly transgender contestant on Dancing with the Stars (2005), he drew enormous public attention along with both support and controversy in 2011. Bono has written three books about his identity and transition, including Transition: The Story of How I Became a Man (2011), previously served as GLAAD's entertainment media director, and later returned to acting with roles in American Horror Story (2011). He remains a prominent advocate for transgender rights.