DWTS13 Chaz Bono Is ‘Very Much Alive And Plans To Stay That Way’ (Rant Post)
Have you all read about how the National Enquirer claims Chaz will die within four years because of “purported health issues stemming from his gender transition?” Chaz and his lawyer, Dina LaPolt are outraged (I don’t blame them, do you? How could anyone report such a thing! 
) According to E News, Dina sent a cease and desist letter to the National Enquirer accusing the magazine of defamation and demanding it print a retraction and apologize.
“This is absolutely outrageous, false, fabricated, and highly defamatory,” the legal eagle wrote. “The salacious and inflammatory headline and article were crafted for the malicious purpose of discriminating against our client’s gender and sexual orientation.”
The letter then takes issue with several key assertions the article makes, including that “obesity, testosterone supplements, and high suicide rates among transgender people all increase Chaz’s risk of an early death.”
Hardly, notes LaPolt, who describes the statement as “outrageous” and “offensive.” She also blasted the tabloid for citing as its evidence the authority of a so-called doctor, Patrick Wanis, whom the Enquirer labeled a transgender specialist, a depiction the attorney claims is “highly misleading and blatantly false.”
“He is not a physician and has no specialty in transgender health issues,” stated the attorney.
LaPolt went on to call the story “a smear campaign” and pure “character assassination.”
You can read the E News article in full and how the rep for the magazine defend themselves.
There is no excuse for what they wrote in my opinion. I wonder how they’d like it if someone wrote a death prediction piece like that on them? Sad!!! 
Here are the facts. Even if a person takes hormones, has surgery, changes their birth certificate’s gender, they are still the sex they were born as. The proof? Their DNA examined under a microscope will still declare their gender as the one they were born with.
Those “facts”, Colleen, have nothing to do with the main thrust of the article – That Chaz only has 4 years to live.
Colleen, have you ever worked with families with babies born ambiguous? I have. Gender is not nearly as straight forward as some people think and believe. Sorry Heidi, perhaps I shouldn’t respond here to that as you’re right, it’s not at ALL what the article is about. I’m just so tired of the ignorance.
So Colleen, facts or not, are you saying you have no issues with a magazine predicting when someone is going to die?
In mind and spirit, Chaz is a male. In my opinion, that is just as “factual”.
You’re fine, Jess.
Bottom line: bitches be crazy. If Chaz is dying in 4 years due to “complications stemming from his gender transformation”, then I will probably die before year’s end from “complications stemming from excessive bitchiness & snarkitude”. Been nice knowing’ ya, kids.
The cheese is coming, I promise – but at the moment, I’m en route to watch the Colts go for 0-9 against the Falcons. Now THAT’S cheesy
National Enquirer is an embarrassment to itself, it’s so salacious, mostly untrue, and at best, distorted. Most reasonable and intelligent people don’t consider it worthy of consideration. However, once in a while they do get it right. They have sometimes been the first to bring an important story to light. Rarely, but it happens. My comments, however, are not on the NE article at all, but on the larger discussion that Bono’s celebrity brings to the fore via DWTS, which is regarding “trans-gender” issues. I mentioned the above facts because I have not seen the scientifically irrefutable DNA data mentioned thus far anywhere in the mention of Bono within the entertainment press. I think in the interest of honesty and a willingness to consider all the issues, that the facts regarding the DNA deserve to be a part of the discussion.
Hmmm ….. wonder if a Colts win will increase the cheese in the cheesecake awards or decrease it??? Well the snarkier the better. Don’t know if a win or lose will produce that!
Awesome Court. Have fun! Can’t wait for our new Cheesecake!!
And LOL Meggie!!
No, Colleen, it doesn’t. This is one of those rare times that science doesn’t really matter – accurate or not. FACT IS: Chaz self identifies as male, so HERE, that is what he is. Period.
I am a scientist and I actually resent the use of science in what appears to be cleverly disguised bigotry. You just said that once in a while the NE gets it right – that implies that you think he will die within four years. That is NOT scientifically verifiable but you are using DNA (which is actually meaningless in the larger context) to make it sound like it is.
I suppose next you will tell us that homosexuality is a choice, since, scientifically, there is no evidence that you are born that way.
When I’m learning, I’m interested to hear commentary from a variety of angles. It helps me to form an authentic and informed opinion. Some are under the impression that gender can be completely changed, which is not true. As soon as the patient discontinues hormone therapy, they lose whatever physical changes the hormones confer. That’s because their body is still fundamentally the original gender.
According to Dictiionary.com, a bigot is a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion.
Well, guess what? You’re still missing the point and in the process sounding bigoted. After all, you don’t seem to accept Chaz’s self identification as male. I suggest you drop it and move on to something new.
Differing commentary is always good – when it’s ON TOPIC and not offensive to other readers. I don’t know exactly what it is you’re trying to do here, since you are the only one having this discussion.
Boy, They don’t call the National Enquirer a Rag Mag for nothing. Geez..
I am so glad that Chaz did DWTS. At first, I was not to keen on the idea, but I enjoyed his time on the show very much. I think everyone should be happy for Chaz. He is. Thats all that matters.
Colleen,
Chaz Bono was declared to be male in a court of law. Regardless of his DNA, legally, he is male. No one disputes the DNA, it’s just not relevant to most discussions, including this one.
he should just sue the pants off that rag. People need to remeber that its the same magazine thta says Elvis si alive in every couple of months in some random state and claims that people are dying all the time.
Oh!Oh! Courtney’s not goin’ be happy!
@Meggie You got that right!! lol