Return To Gender

Today’s flog involves the transgender issue. At the top, I’ll note that on this subject I have very mixed feelings having witnessed several people go through sex-change operations only to regret their decision when it was way too late. For continuity, the following is what piqued my interest to write about the subject.

Part I
In a recent interview Chaz Bono (formerly “Chastity”) mentioned Shiloh Jolie-Pitt (age 4 going on 5) as a potential candidate for gender identification quandaries. The reason why he brought Shiloh into the gender-bender mix is because Shiloh likes to dress as a boy and, at one time, would only answer to the name “John.”

Beginning in 2009, Shiloh was placed on a sacrificial scaffold in the gossip media’s blistering lights for being a little girl in baggy boys pants, over-sized boys shoes and an apparent botched short haircut. Because her parents openly discussed/announced details of Shiloh’s proclivities, as well as the numerous tabloid pictures of her in various boyish outfits, a literal hate- and-hail-storm ensued on gossip forums/message boards, comment sections of various blogs – most blaming Jolie for deliberately dressing Shiloh as a boy for a variety of devious reasons, not because they believed that Shiloh chose the funky clothing on her own.

In addition to blaming Jolie, direct flames were thrown at young Shiloh by linking her future life to that of Chaz Bono. Ironic, then, that Chaz, who has become a spokesperson for transgender issues, somehow must believe that he can smell a kindred spirit via pictures and rumours as he admits he doesn’t know Jolie or Pitt, thus has never met Shiloh. Other than relating to Shiloh because she too is growing up “in the spotlight” as did “Chastity,” Chaz placed himself in the same category of anonymous strangers who post their opinions on the internet with nothing more than armchair psychology as a guide.

Whether Shiloh grows up to have problems in the gender area or not, I am in complete disagreement with Chaz or anyone (especially those “in the spotlight”) dragging a child’s name into further infamy. In my universe, it’s enough that Suri Cruise made a “Best Dressed” list among adults a few days ago, and that she wobbles around in high heels and Cinderella gowns at the age of 5. Now we have a high profile transgender daughter of Cher (of all people) tossing another piece of kindling into the Shiloh bonfire.

I say leave the kid alone! All of you. Who knows what is going to happen to this little girl? How repulsive to lay any kind of label or prediction on anyone during their early years! When she’s a bit older, for all anyone knows, Shiloh might plot a raid on Suri Cruise’s closet. When it’s not occupied by her daddy, that is.

Part 2 begins with a click…..


In deference/respect/fear to and of Cher, as well as being decent in a PC kind of way to the transgender community, most of the media have shied away from bashing Chaz Bono’s sex change beyond a quasi-lurid tabloid expose’ here and there which is to their credit – for a change.

In addition, you don’t want to be a media outlet dissing Cher’s child when everyone knows Cher wants to crawl into a rabbit hole and never return unless she has a Cheshire Cat on her shoulder as deflection from the largest wrinkle her skin will ever have that Botox will never be able to erase.

I can still feel Cher reeling from the first life-rattling announcement when “Chastity” came out to her and the world as a “lesbian.” Remember when? In reality, it wasn’t a huge news story beyond a few publishing cycles when a majority of the population could not have cared one way or another. Eh? So what else is new? That’s Hollyweird.

From reports at the time, Cher didn’t jump into her fishnet Diva couture and dance around the house singing “If I Could Turn Back Time” although the temptation may have been strong. Instead, she appeared to sequester herself in her Malibu mausoleum, possibly regretting that she had ever taken the role of Meryl Steeps’ gay lover in Silkwood.

Ironic, isn’t it? Cher was fine with acting as a lesbian in a film, yet not at all comfortable with discovering her daughter was so inclined. You know how it goes -- “acting” is one thing; reality is another – especially if it lands on your doorstep.

By the time Cher finally came to terms with her daughter’s slide into her primary audience’s lifestyle, Chastity had moved on to another level of how to freak her mother out by announcing that she felt more like a “Chaz” than a virginal belt. I bet Cher really wanted to sing “If I Could Turn Back Time” to the good ole days of having a regular “gay” daughter. 

Chaz admits that his mother is having a wee bit of an adjustment issue with the latest of life’s bucket of very cold water spilling directly on her famous iconic head. And, to be honest, I would have some difficulty adjusting, too. Does one laugh? Cry? Accept?

Not if you are a star who has spent most of your life being among the sexiest sleek of the sleek-ists and one of the Divas of the Divas of all time. Makes ya’ just wanna hit that moon you struck with more than a pizza pie.

(Note: I've made numerous edits post-posting when I continually used "she" rather than "he" when referencing Chaz. Mebe Cher and I finally have something in common after all these years. Sorry Chaz. But I know you're getting used to the confusion.....)