Every season the Dancing with the Stars cast has some sort of uproar, whether it’s after the cast announcement or on the dance floor—from season 11’s Florence Henderson being pegged as dancing too sexy for her age to season four’s Heather Mills McCartney dancing with a prosthetic leg. Season 13 is not different; in fact, it’s the most controversial season yet.
Among some of the expected odd-ball contestants, Chaz Bono, former daughter of Sonny and Cher, is the show’s first transgender competitor. Born Chastity Bono, Chaz began the sexual reassignment process in March 2009. The change was completely in May 2011.
After the announcement, fans, blogs and social networking sights began a backlash against Bono.
“HUGE HUGE fan of this show since season two and eagerly await each season to get my dancing/entertainment ‘fix’!! But when I heard that Chaz Bono was going to be on, I was sick. Not that I have anything personally again her/him, I just don’t want that lifestyle choice continually flaunted in the media esp ABC,” reports TheWrap.com of one fan’s disappointment.
“Whether it’s Glee or Dancing With the Stars, this is Hollywood’s insistence on tearing down traditional families,” said Dan Gainor, VP of Business and Culture at the Media Research Center. The organization believes “that liberal bias in the media does exist and undermines traditional American values,” as per their website.
On the other hand, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation could not be happier with this decision.
“Chaz Bono joining the cast of a series like Dancing with the Stars would be a tremendous step forward for the American public to recognize that transgender people are another wonderful part of the fabric of our culture,” said a GLADD spokesperson.
One-half of the singing duo Sonny & Cher and Bono’s mother, Cher was originally unsupportive of his sexual orientation, he writes in his latest memoir, Transition: How I Became a Man. Now, she is his biggest DWTS supporter.
“I support him no matter what he chooses 2do!” Cher said on Twitter. “BTW …Mothers don’t stop Getting angry with stupid bigots who fk with their children.”
Questions also arose as to whether Bono would be paired with a male or female professional dancer. He was paired with Lacey Schwimmer.
Watch Bono and the rest of the season 13 cast compete for the coveted Mirror Ball trophy. The new season of DWTS premiers Monday, September 19 at 8 p.m./7c. The first results show will air Tuesday, September 20 at 8 p.m./7c.
This article was originally published on AllMediaNY.com
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