I saw on cnn.com tonight that Chastity Bono, noted lesbian, is now transitioning to to become a male. http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/06/11/ent.chastity.bono/index.html
My question is, since she’s now transitioning to a man, was she always a lesbian? Did her lesbianism transmogrify into a gender identification issue? Once she transitions to Chaz, will he still be a lesbian?
Nah, he was always a straight man if he’s attracted to women. I mean, even if he believed his uncomfortableness in the gender ascribed to him was actually just being a lesbian, deep down (we’ll have to assume, since he’s transitioning) he’s always been a man.
Up until the transition, yes, she was a lesbian
No, the vast, overwhelming majority of lesbians never want to be a man. There is no reason to think the two are related.
No. Assuming Chaz is still attracted to women he will then be heterosexual.
Unless he also suddenly finds men attractive, in which case he will be bisexual. If he winds up being attracted to men instead of women then he will be homosexual.
I honestly thought that is what this thread was going to be debating. No, I guess they meant literally.
So, two opposite opinions already. I generally would stick to Broomstick’s until Bono says otherwise. Bono claimed to be a lesbian, so I’d give that the benefit of the doubt, until we are told otherwise.
I mean, Electric Warrior’s position seems sound, but I’m not sure all transsexuals think that way. I’ve heard of a MTF transsexual who referred to herself preop as “back when I was a man.” Of course, since it was second hand at best, I’m not sure if it’s true.
Raised eyebrow (had Chaz been openly male before?) but if he is and always was a he, then he is not a lesbian.
I’d have gone by Chad, but that’s just me. 
Isn’t Chaz short for Charles?
Once Chastity has all of the operations, will she then have had as many surgeries as Cher?
Never. Cher will always have more, and there’s no way for Chaz to catch up.
I think they’re both saying the same thing, really. If Chastity was a man in a woman’s body, then she was a straight man in a lesbian’s body. So it’s kinda like she wasn’t a lesbian, but a straight man (since she identifies as male and is presumably still attracted to women), but her body was a lesbian! 
I have learned over the years that, in fact, many transsexuals do not have “all the surgeries”, particularly female-to-male transsexuals do not always have “all the surgeries”.
With these threads I always hope the transsexual Dopers will drop in and educate the rest of us. On the other hand, given what kind of mess these thread can turn into, I also don’t blame them for not getting involved.
I’d have gone by Chez, but that’s just me.
Given the World’s Best Surgeons, how good could F2M SRS be? Could the genitalia 'work?" Would he scare children at the YMCA locker room?
So, Chastity is gonna have an adadictume…
If Cher has another facelift, it’ll be a Caesarian.
My understanding is that they indeed “work” and look real.
For certain values of “work”. Obviously they can never produce children. Erectile function is achieved by means of a hand operated pump and a pneumatic implant. Capable of penetration? Sure. Capable of producing orgasm? If the surgeon is really good and really lucky.
I think it’s great he’s appropriating a ‘WASP’ name. Go Chaz!
Good for Chaz!
I wish him all the luck in the world.
I hate this. He has the chance to choose any name in the world for himself, and he chooses “Chaz”. Bleagh.
Good for him otherwise, though. I don’t even have the bravery to come out to most people!