Dancing With the Stars Under Fire For Including Transgender Contestant

   By drodriguez  Sep 08, 2011

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As we gear up for the new season of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, which premieres September 19th, one contestant is probably just as busy answering questions from the press as he is practicing his dance moves.

Chaz Bono, born Chastity Bono to famous couple Cher and Sonny Bono, underwent gender reassignment and has since become an outspoken advocate for the transgender community. A recent report from the New York Post discusses some of the criticism Bono and DWTS are receiving from groups, like millionmoms.com and the Culture and Media Institute who wish to boycott the show.

Many of the critics who disapprove of DWTS choosing a transgender member of the community to be one of their dance contestants feel it will only serve to confuse children about their own gender identities. Bono responded to this criticism on Good Morning America when he said, “People who don’t have gender dysphoria http://www.genderdysphoria.org/ aren’t going to catch it by watching me dance on television,”

Chaz Bono admits he is trying to put a positive spin on all of the criticism coming his way. Bono told ABC News, “You know, it just kind of shows why for me it's important to be on the show, because so little still is known about what it means to be transgender. And there's so many just completely inaccurate stereotypes and thoughts that people have.”

What do you think of all the criticism aimed at DWTS and Chaz Bono?

Will you be watching Dancing With the Stars this season?