Free to Be You and Me... and Free to transition from Chastity to Chaz

Freedom.

We celebrate it here in the U.S.A. tomorrow: July 4th, 2009.

Independence.

Part of being free and independent is being true to ourselves. Being out, and honest, and open about who we are and how we feel.

There's been a lot of noise about Chastity Bono's announcement that she is transitioning from female to male (and the failed reality show shopping of that transition), and that as a man, he will be known as Chaz Bono.

Chaz Bono

And all I really have to add is "Yeah. Follow your heart. Be true to yourself."

We GLBTQ Americans may not have achieved full equality yet here in the U.S.A., but we're on the road. Having someone of Chastity's celebrity stature stand up and be open about her truly feeling like a man inside, and the fact that she's going to be transitioning in a public way, and that she'll emerge as a man, is a huge step towards making the Transgender community less foreign, and less of a mystery, and less scary to the rest of society.

The more people know those that seem "other," the harder it is to keep their prejudices against them.

Tomorrow, when I'm at my town's parade and fireworks, I'm going to know that part of the celebration is for Chaz. And you. And gay me.

Because we're fortunate enough to live in a country where we ARE free to be you, and me...and Chaz is free to be work towards the day when he can finally be himself.

In a world where not everyone is free to be true to themselves, those of us fortunate enough to be in countries where we can live honest, open lives should absolutely celebrate it.

And maybe we can work towards the day when no matter where a kid is born on this planet Earth, they can grow up and be true to themselves.

Now THERE'S a future goal worth celebrating!

Namaste and Happy 4th of July!

Lee