Transition : Becoming Who I Was Always Meant to Be

Chaz Bono's groundbreaking and candid account of a forty-year struggle to match his gender identity with his physical body and his transformation from female to male At first, America knew the only child of Sonny and Cher as Chastity, the cherubic little girl who appeared on her parents' TV show. In later years, she became famous for coming out on a national stage, working with two major organizations toward LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) rights and publishing two books. And just within the past eighteen months, Chaz Bono has entered the public consciousness as the most high-profile transgender person ever. All through the hoopla surrounding his change, Chaz has insisted on maintaining his privacy. Now, in Transition , Chaz finally tells his story. Part One traces his decision to transition, beginning in his childhood-when he played on the boys' teams and wore boys' clothing whenever possible-and going through his painful, but ultimately joyful, coming out in his twenties, up to 2008, when, after the death of his father, drug addiction, and five years of sobriety, Chaz was finally ready to begin the process of changing his gender. In Part Two, he offers an unprecedented record in words and photographs of the actual transition, a real-time diary as he navigates uncharted waters. These chapters capture the day-to-day momentum of his life as his body changes. Throughout the book, Chaz touches on themes of identity, gender, and sexuality; parents and children; and how harboring secrets shatters the soul. It is an amazing contribution to our understanding of a much- misunderstood community. Listen to an Interview The New York Times bestseller that asks: What happens on the journey from self-doubt to self-acceptance' Imagine knowing, for decades, that the person you are and the body you inhabit don't match up. Imagine pushing that feeling down so deep that you convince yourself, for years, that it doesn't even exist. Imagine the havoc wreaked by such a secret. Now, imagine living this life under the scrutiny of the public eye. Chaz Bono has lived this life. We first met him as Chastity, the darling girl on stage with her parents, Sonny and Cher. Then, we knew her as an out lesbian and gay activist. Through all of this, Chaz was plagued by a nagging feeling that he wasn't living the life meant for him. It wasn't until he admitted, first to himself, then to his family, and finally to the world, that he was a transgender man, that Chaz Bono fully embraced his true self. In Transition, Chaz shares his deeply moving and ultimately triumphant account of the physical and emotional process that brought him to a place of peace, and finally happiness. With a message to anyone who has ever felt that they couldn't be who they really are, Transition is as inspirational as it is intimate At first, America knew the only child of Sonny and Cher as Chastity, the cherubic little girl who appeared on her parents' TV show. Later, she came out on a national stage, working with major organizations toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights. Then, within eighteen months, Chaz Bono became the most high-profile transgender person ever. Part One traces his decision to transition, beginning in his childhood--when he played on the boys' teams and wore boys' clothing whenever possible--and going through his painful, but ultimately joyful, coming out in his twenties, up to 2008, when, after the death of his father, drug addiction, and five years of sobriety, Chaz was finally ready to begin the process. In Part Two, he offers a record of the actual transition, a real-time diary as he navigates uncharted waters. Throughout the book, Chaz touches on themes of identity, gender, and sexuality; parents and children; and how harboring secrets shatters the soul.--From publisher description