Singer and actress Cher is a mom of two. She welcomed her first child Chaz Bono, born Chastity, on March 4, 1969, with her ex-husband Sonny Bono. On July 10, 1976, Cher became a mom again, when she welcomed her son, Elijah Blue Allman, with her ex-husband Gregg Allman.
Chaz, born a girl, underwent gender transitioning as an adult. When Chaz was young, his mom was careful to shield him from too much public exposure and pressure. However, Chaz was ready for the limelight and bugged his mom to be featured on the “Cher” series.
Eventually, Cher gave in and Chaz appeared on the last show of the last season as a surprise guest. “She felt right at home, since she’d been around television studios all her life, and we both enjoyed it more because we could be together,” recalled Cher.
As Chaz grew up, Cher noted that she felt the most important thing to her was to be honest with her child. The singer would speak the truth to Chaz in a way her young child could understand. She would talk more softly to Chaz than she would to an adult. On top of everything, Cher respected Chaz and he knew that.
When asked if she would like Chaz to be an entertainer when he grew up, the singer replied, “Sure. If that turns out to be what she wants.” The singer described Chaz as very musical and unafraid of the audience unlike her who sometimes feared the crowd.
“If she does become a singer or an actress, it will be her own decision. And she has plenty of time. In the meantime, I am proud of the person she is becoming, and I’m glad she is my friend,” added Cher.
When Chaz turned 19, he revealed he wasn’t into flashy and provocative fashion like his mother. Instead, Chaz was into quiet and casual fashion, often rocking a T-shirt and jeans.
Chaz also delved into his mom’s parenting, “Sometimes, I act like the parent and mom acts like a kid.” He noted that when his mom wanted to add a white strip to her short jet-black hair, he told her, “Mom, you can’t. It’s ridiculous. What will people think?”
In 1995, Chaz, who had yet to transition, came out as a lesbian. Cher revealed that she had a hard time accepting this change, “I think I had a particularly difficult time. I was very un-Cher-like in my acceptance of my daughter’s choice.”
The singer also asked what one was supposed to do when a person who is an extension of themselves is not doing a normal thing. She nervously added that the most difficult thing to do is to love people who are different than you and believe and look differently.
Cher and Chaz’s relationship evolved again after the daughter the singer gave birth to transitioned in 2009. Chaz underwent gender transitioning coming out as a trans man.
Many wonder how Chaz would have looked like today, had he not transitioned to a man and remained Chastity Bono. AI-generated pictures show how Cher’s daughter would have looked at 55 years old minus gender transitioning.
For numerous individuals, Cher became their first acquaintance with the mother of a transgender person. Still, as per Cher and Chaz, the singer’s initial reaction to his coming out was unfavorable.
Cher narrated, “It took me a minute. Because you’ve been with a child for 40 years, and then all of a sudden … but you know what? Chaz was so happy!”
However, over a decade later, Cher had poignant and compelling words to offer other parents of transgender children. She aimed to help them comprehend that they were not losing the child they raised.
Cher stressed the ongoing importance of their child’s happiness to parents when advising others on understanding and reacting to their children coming out as transgender. The singer illustrated the importance of empathizing with the experience. She likened it to waking up one day feeling like a completely different person. She described it as being unable to express one’s true self.
