CNN) -- Chastity Bono, gay-rights activist and child of performer Cher and the late entertainer and politician Sonny Bono, is in the early stages of transitioning from a female to a male and will be known as Chaz, his spokesman said Thursday.


Activist Chastity Bono is transitioning from female to male and will be known as Chaz.

"Chaz, after many years of consideration, has made the courageous decision to honor his true identity," Howard Bragman said in a written statement.

"He is proud of his decision and grateful for the support and respect that has already been shown by his loved ones. It is Chaz's hope that his choice to transition will open the hearts and minds of the public regarding this issue, just as his 'coming out' did nearly 20 years ago."

Someone's decision to transition does not necessarily mean they are undergoing gender reassignment surgery, and in many cases they do not, said Mara Keisling, executive director of the Washington-based National Center for Transgender Equality.

"The whole media fixation on surgery is kind of misplaced," she said. "Almost no transgender people ever have surgery. We don't have any idea how many do." iReport.com: Do you have a transgender story?

An estimated one-quarter to one-half percent of the American population is transsexual, however, Keisling said. "It's sort of a general term that encompasses both or either a social transition or a medical transition."



"The actual details depend on his needs and wants and his doctor's needs and wants," she said.

Bragman asked that the media "respect Chaz's privacy during this long process, as he will not be doing any interviews at this time."


Now 40, Bono as a little girl made regular appearances on her parents' show, "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour." As an adult, he has been a longtime gay-rights advocate and been closely associated with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. See more photos from Chastity Bono's life »

Bono's father, Sonny Bono, was a U.S. representative from California when he was killed in a skiing accident in January 1998.

Cher should have laid off the drugs when she was pregnant.Obviously a lack of good parenting on her part.Sucks to be her.

Cher has always been very supportive as far as I have seen and she will continue to be throughout this transition I am sure.

Good for her, if she knows what she needs and goes for it.

Lack of parenting. Too funny.

its not lack of parenting at all.

her own brother is a drag queen

I didn't know that.

I can't say I understand wanting a sex change (since I've never felt that way for myself) I won't condemn someone that does either.

If you want folks to respect your privacy, why do you have a 'spokesperson' announce it to the world???

I am sure she is well known in the Gay/Lesbian/Transgendered community but did the rest of the world really need to know?
Does the rest of the world even care?

Did George Cloony need a press conference to announce he is straight?

Only You Thomas could have said something like that.. LMAO

There's little in society that DOESN'T suggest most folks are straight. So no straights hardly need to advertise it in yet another way.

Personally I do agree that if she wanted privacy why announce it. I wish her well despite the fact that I can't relate to her choice, and since I can't I would have no educated reason to object.

Who cares...I don't understand why this is news!!

It's just as much news as anything else, unless you think what you feel is news should be the only news. Personally I find it trivial as is most news, but there must be money in it or it wouldn't be out there as news.