A question about Chaz Bono

[IndyPragmatist]

As I was flipping through the channels, I saw part of his performance and noticed how much the crowd was behind him. At first, I thought that was great, then I saw the interview with him. He seemed kind of annoyed by how people were treating him. They were treating him like he had a disability. They were going out of their way to build him up, but it was excessive IMO.

What I don't want to see is people voting for him just because of who he is and what he has been through. Now, obviously, I can't really put myself in his shoes. I have no idea the things that he has been through in his life. But I have met two transgender people in my life (that I know of), and they just wanted to be treated like everyone else. If Chaz is a great dancer, I hope he goes on in the competition. But if he is terrible, I don't want people voting for him for that.

I don't want to say being a transgender person is a disability. That would be ridiculous to claim. However, my little brother has Asperger syndrome. Most people would never be able to tell that he has it. However, sometimes it comes out and many people in his office know about it. He doesn't want to be treated any differently. He can do anything as well as the rest of us, but he constantly has people in his office try to do things for him that they wouldn't do for "normal" people. When he is walking in the office, people will hold the door for him, but not others. If he ever has a confused look on his face, people come running to ask if he needs help. He doesn't need help.

I'm thinking Chaz might have the same mindset. Yeah, he is different, but that isn't bad. I would think that he wants to be treated like everyone else. I know he fights for the rights of the LGBT crowd, but he is fighting for equality, not special treatment.

I hope Chaz wins. But I hope that he wins it because he is a great dancer, not because he used to be she.

[MineralMan]

1. I agree with you on this. If shows like this were actually

contests to see who becomes the best dancer, they would be interesting, perhaps. When they're decided by how many people can gather a group together to vote for or against someone, I have no interest whatever. For me, this type of "reality show" is unappealing.

For Chaz, this will end up being nothing more that which group can muster up enough votes, and most of those votes won't be based on anything but opinions about transgendered people. If it were about dancing, that would be a good thing. But it's not, so I won't be participating.

I wish Chaz all the best in life.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. It is about Chaz being there at all.

Considering he's the first and all, on TV. So it is about more than dancing, it is about the breakthrough moment. Lots of shows and programs are all about the dance, pure and actual, but that would never be the case on a celebrity competition. The show is what it is, I don't care for it either, but this event is the best use of that hour they have come up with yet.
It is not ABT, it is a celebrity dance off.

[MineralMan]

18. It's great that he's on the show. I'm very glad to see that.

It's just not a show I ever watch. So, I won't be voting. I know that the voting will just be a contest between two sides and will be political in nature. It will have nothing to do with anything else. So, I won't participate in that.

[Bluenorthwest]

28. Yeah, well I don't watch it, have not and won't

and yet I celebrate the breakthrough moment, and really don't see that it is surprising to see politics play out in a cultural event. Your objection seems shallow and based on nothing. It's a game. It's the pop culture. It's not rocket science, it's theater, and it does more to change the world every day than 'politics' does in a decade. They are the caboose and we are the music makers, we are the dreamers of the dreams.

[MineralMan]

29. I celebrate it, too. However, I will still not vote.

To do so would be to negate my disdain for all such celebrity nonsense. I did not vote against Bristol Palin and I will not vote for Chaz Bono. The entire concept of this is alien to my principles. You may do as you please. I am merely saying what I will do.

I'm very pleased that Chaz Bono has this opportunity, and I support his victory. That does not mean I will go against my principles and give shows like this my approval by participating in them in any way.

[LynneSin]

2. Honestly I think that's the reason why I haven't seen any big voting pushes for Chaz....

Don't get me wrong - I see people everywhere who are excited to see Chaz on DWTS and feel that he brings a positive light to a very misunderstood group of people. I saw some clips of his dancing and thought he looked like he was having the time of his life out there on the dance floor and it seems the judges were impressed.

But normally I don't watch this show, it's simply not my cup of tea. And personally I felt that whole push that was done a few seasons back with Bristol Palin was just obnoxious. From what I read about her she couldn't dance, looked like she was in pain when she was on the dance floor and was one of the few DTWS contestants who didn't drop a pound during the event. She was not someone who deserved a 3rd place finish and from what I read several very good contestants were eliminated because of that voting. Was it fair to take away talented people from the show just to push an agenda?

I suppose if there was a big push to help Chaz win perhaps I might call in a time or 2 (or vote however you vote - don't have a clue). But then we end up being like them, the tea party idiots who felt they were curing cancer or solving world peace by voting for some high school drop out being pushed into the limelight by her mother.

If Chaz Bono is to do well in this competition is should be because he's done a good job on the dance floor not because a bunch of people want to try and influence the vote just to push their agenda, no matter how good or bad that agenda might be.

[wtmusic]

3. When you go on a freak show, expect to be treated like a freak.

All about numbers baby. They would love it if he broke down in tears.

[Shagbark Hickory]

20. Don't these contestants (rikki lake, tom delay, bristol palin, blago etc etc) wonder why

they're on a show called dancing with the "stars?"

[Bluenorthwest]

4. I think that message is best reversed and sent to those who

announced in advance that they would be voting AGAINST Chaz no matter how well he might dance. Did you think of that? Does you brother have millions of people organizing against his kind, spending millions to say 'you do not belong at all'? If not, then the comparison of being transgendered to being disabled is all you are really saying here. Why doesn't it bother you that people will vote against him sight unseen? Is that not 'special treatment' of a nasty and negative kind? Yes, yes it is.
Let me ask you this. Do you think even one DUer judged the dancing of Bristol Palin without thinking of her other life elements? Do you think the various voters judged Kirsty Alley in part by her weight issues and her courage in that regard? Just saying. It is interesting to me that when it is Chaz, suddenly there is concern for fair minded judging of a celebrity show. Sudden, out of the blue, and never once said about any other contestant. Interesting indeed.

[Booster]

5. Good point.

[Zorra]

6. +1

[IndyPragmatist]

7. Maybe I was wrong to assume the competition was about the dancing

I've never really watched the show. I've seen a few bits and pieces, but never more than a few minutes.

I knew Bristol Palin was on the show, but I had no idea what happened with her.

If this were a legitimate dancing competition, such as in the Olympics, then yes I would absolutely want fair judgement. I should have known that since its on primetime tv, it will just be a popularity contest. I guess it's all about who the people want to tune in and see next week. So I have no problem if people want to see Chaz dance.

However, what I saw last night was a little off. Maybe I read into it wrong, but it seemed like they were treating Chaz like he was disabled. If the fans want Chaz on the show, they should vote for him.



And to your statement about my brother: yes, he has been harassed. Of course, nowhere near what Chaz has experienced, but he has had people tell him he is faking it, or that he is just weird and looking for special treatment by calling it a syndrome. He has even had the other side of the equation; people have said that he isn't any different, that his condition is normal and who are we to say what is normal. (The science proves he is different, but different isn't always bad)

[Bluenorthwest]

10. You did not address my primary point, which is that you come

here saying 'don't vote for him because he's who he is' when right wingers are organized to vote against him no matter what. I asked why you are not concerned with that form of 'special treatment'. You chose to go off on the nature of a show you have not seen rather than respond to the nature of your post. Being transexual is not a disability. And the 'special treatment' that stinks is the negative prejudging of Chaz for being Chaz, not those who might vote for him because of who he is.
To me, your post is really off the mark.

[itsallhappening]

11. Maybe people aren't voting "sight unseen"?

It's entertainment fluff. Not that there's anything wrong with that; we all have our likes and dislikes when it comes to entertainment.

I can see people voting for or against someone based on whether they want to see that person bouncing around the stage the next week. And if someone doesn't like the way he or she looks, it's their choice, their vote.

[Bluenorthwest]

13. Yeah except that they said they were going to vote him off

prior to any taping. In fact,they tried to get the show to dump Chaz, and started the attacks the moment his appearance was announced. The facts are the facts. The haters stood up prior to any contestant dancing as single step and announced that they'd vote against Chaz. Matter of public record. They sought and they got lots of press for their deep outrage at Chaz's existence.
So all of that prejudging would belie the idea of them casting fair votes.

[itsallhappening]

15. I've never expected "fair" votes on these reality shows.

If someone doesn't like something about a particular contestant, it's no surprise that they can make up their mind before the show starts and decide to vote for or against that him or her. After all, it's called "Dancing with the STARS," so people know who the contestants are and what they act like and look like prior to any contestant dancing a single step.

[Zorra]

8. +1. There really are 2 sides to this coin.

Being transsexual is not a disability, but it is a huge challenge. Transgendered is a very general term. Chaz is transsexual.

A recent term in usage is "Transgenderism", essentially an empty word conjured up as a neutral label for any individual not conforming to common social rules of gender expression. The term was created to help unite very disparate individuals under a vague commonality of interest in gender, in order to provide a basis for mutual benefit and support within an often violently antagonistic society.

http://transsexual.org/What.html

[HappyMe]

9. I have never watch dwts, and probably never will.

I got the phone number to vote for Chaz to keep the guy on the show. I don't want him dumped by the fear mongering, 'what about the children' crowd. I have no illusions that this show isn't a popularity contest. I never once thought that my vote for him connotes a vote for giving the guy any special treatment.
After I saw a few clips of the show, I was delighted to see that, the dude can dance. Better than that Eliza whats-her-name and Nancy 'nostrils' Grace.
So, it's all good. A vote for equality, and a good dancer besides.

:-)

[deaniac21]

14. All "reality" shows suck.

[Horse with no Name]

16. Really? I watched his performance (and it wasn't bad) AND I watched the interview

I saw NO annoyance.

You DO understand that there has been DEATH threats against him..because he dared to dance? Perhaps THAT is the reason for the support of the fellow cast members and audience? Yeah, I think so.
At home and on the set...he now HAS TO HAVE a security detail because HE dared to dance.

He is breaking through a glass ceiling. That is never easy and it isn't for the weak or timid. I think he "gets" thats...but is stepping forward so that those behind him might have a chance to not be afraid to be who they are.

I saw a pretty humble guy in spite of the hatred swirling around this.

I also saw a guy that when I looked at him, looks a lot like his mama (sans plastic surgery) and sounds a whole helluva lot like his Dad. Even the cadence of his speech reminds me of Sonny. It was uncanny.

For these reasons alone, I am going to give the guy a break.

He is the transgendered version of Rosa Parks and I applaud him for that.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

19. No annoyance whatsoever.

:shrug: I have watched Chaz on several things, including his special "Becoming Chaz". On the DWTS, he was all smiles and clearly the happiest camper in the building. The only think he seemed to show anything like annoyance with was his ability to perform to his own expectations.

[WinkyDink]

24. I didn't see the "guy" until Chaz danced. Then I got him. (Still rooting for Carson, though!)

[Missy Vixen]

17. Hmmm. Concern.

>I know he fights for the rights of the LGBT crowd, but he is fighting for equality, not special treatment.<

Is it "special treatment" that ABC has had to engage 24-hour-a-day security for Chaz Bono, as a result of the threats against his safety? You bet I voted my little fingers off the other night. It's not just Chaz Bono that's the target of hate and organized campaigns. Carson Kressley is dancing this season as well, an out and proud gay man.

I watch DWTS. It's cheesetastic, it's an hour of my life I'm never getting back, but I enjoy the show. I'm glad ABC's executives have the guts to put Chaz Bono on their show. He's larger, but he showed he can dance. I look forward to seeing what he'll do in the coming weeks. Even more, I look forward to that seed planted in the minds of those who don't know anything else but bigotry and hate: He's just like that neighbor, friend's kid or co-worker's relative. Maybe they need to think twice about their stance.

[Lyric]

21. *eyeroll*

For every one GLBT ally who votes for Chaz based on his GLBT status and not his talent, there will be hundreds (if not thousands) of bigoted fuckheads voting AGAINST him because of his GLBT status, no matter how good his dancing might be.

Adam Lambert proved to me once and for all that GLBT people can't get a fair shake on these reality show competitions. If my vote (or anyone ELSE'S vote) can help to balance out the unfairness of the hate-spewing right wing, then I'll do it.

Chaz is carrying around a 500-lb weight of hatred and prejudice against transgendered people on his back--a weight that none of the OTHER contestants have to carry. He's starting with a huge disadvantage. Excuse ME if I don't feel the LEAST bit guilty for helping to level the playing field.

[kctim]

22. If that were true, he would have been first voted off

You have to vote for someone in order to vote against someone.

[WinkyDink]

23. Audiences vote for all kinds of reasons: team loyalty; hometown connections (Go, Carson!); senti-

mentality (the Geezer Vote); and yes, talent.

It ain't no big deal.

[Arkansas Granny]

25. Chaz is there because his appearance will be considered controversial and will bring in viewers.

People will watch for many reasons. Some will support him, some will not and some will just watch out of curiosity. Whatever the reason, he will draw more viewers and that means the network can charge more for their advertising. It all comes down to money, in the end.

[Initech]

27. That's one thing that really pisses me off about this whole thing.

I mean I'm a supporter of Chaz, he can do whatever he wants, but I think him being on the show was more of a ratings grab for ABC than it was about him being a good dancer. I think this whole "controversy" was intentionally provoked by the network execs just to see how big of a market share they could get.

[Bake]

26. I had never watched DWTS until yesterday.

I thought Chaz was terrific. Maybe not technically excellent, but he seemed to be having a great time and it was entertaining. I found myself pulling for him!

I'm glad he made it past the first round!

Bake