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[jarrow]

I think this is the first time I've ever sent in mail to a national magazine, but I couldn't let this sit.

In response to 10 Questions with Chaz Bono:

Comments

[klia]

Awesome response. It's so frustrating when national magazines are so ridiculously clueless and insensitive (srsly, who likes housecleaning?). Thanks for the heads up on their WTF-ery.

[mresundance]

You were much nicer than I would have been.

My favorite question: You had gender-reassignment surgery and had your breasts removed, which is shocking to a lot of women.

Which lumps him with the category of women by association. *facepalm*

I also admire Chaz, because he always seems so willing to be patient and educate people. I would never answer most of the questions he does over and over again, simply because I find them irrelevant to who I actually am as a person, or, it's not information I would give to strangers.

And go you for speaking up. :)

[jarrow]

Yeah, between the "that's shocking to a lot of women" and "are you nuts?" I just gave up on the interviewer giving Chaz the benefit of the doubt at all that transitioning wasn't a bad idea. I was rolling my eyes from question 1 and then couldn't take it anymore. The whole thing had a tone of, "I really can't believe you did this" that made me sick.

[h1joly]

There are a couple of really parts of this whole story. First one being that you, being trans, had to be the one to write a response. Will any non-transgendered readers complain? I'm betting very few... Any time I've mentioned anything relating to gay rights, there is always someone who assumes I'm gay (because why else would I care?) If I ever correct someone who refers to a trans person as the wrong gender, or worse, I usually get something to the effect of "Oh, so you have a lot of trans friends?" Nope, not GLBT and not overloaded with GLBT friends or family members. But I am a person, and believe people should be treated with dignity and respect...

Secondly, that comment about "most" women being "shocked" by Chaz having his breasts removed? Really, SHOCKED? Uhhhh... I guess I'm not really a woman because I don't find it shocking that someone doesn't adore having breasts.

And the housecleaning... well, let's just leave that one to speak on its own. The whole article is deserving of a thousand eyes... rolling in unison

[sandey30324]

words absolutely fail me..... whether it is the ignorance of people, or how dumbed down the world of journalism has become..... I am going to say the only thing positive here is the choice of Chaz Bono..... just a few short years ago this would never have happened in mainstream media......it might be stupid and ignorant but hey, it's a start.... and i thought you wrote a very good letter, John....