Chaz Bono is set to document the process of becoming a transgender individual, Access Hollywood has learned.
On Thursday, a rep for the gay rights advocate — the child of Cher and Sonny Bono — confirmed that Chaz, who was born Chastity Bono, was undergoing the process of transitioning from female to male.
On Friday, a source told Access Hollywood that Cher has been “loving and supportive” of her child — who now goes by Chaz, throughout the process. Meanwhile, Mary Bono, a Republican conservative and wife of Chaz’s father, the late Sonny Bono, released a statement in support of the 40-year-old’s decision.
“The congresswoman loves and supports Chaz and is hopeful that his privacy and very personal decisions will be respected during this time,” Mary Bono’s statement read.
Access has learned that Chaz has already begun taking hormone pills and there has been a noticeable difference in his voice.
The process will take over a year and Chaz will be documenting everything, a source said.
Chaz will “own the issue,” the source added.
As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Chaz is in the early stages of transition, which started shortly after the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) activist’s 40th birthday.
“He is proud of his decision and grateful for the support and respect that has already been shown by his loved ones,” rep Howard Bragman said in a statement. “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.”
Chaz is one of many stars who have revealed they are transgender or are in the process of having gender reassignment surgery.
Katelynn Cusanelli shared her life experiences shortly after her final surgery to become a woman on MTV’s “The Real World: Brooklyn,” earlier this year. Additionally, last year on “Dirty Sexy Money,” a short-lived ABC drama, William Baldwin’s character, Patrick Darling, was involved in an affair with a transgender male-to-female character, Carmelita Rainer, played by Candis Cayne, who herself is transgender.
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