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ABC’s decision to cast transgender guy Chaz Bono on the latest season of Dancing with the Stars has not been without its share of scandal: Some longtime fans say they won’t tune in this season, and former Pregnant Man Thomas Beatie complained to TMZ that the role of trans contestant was rightfully his. But Chaz shouldn’t have to trouble himself with the latest controversy: ABC’s refusal to bring in same-sex partners.
When asked if they would consider partnering Chaz and former Queer Eye for the Straight Guy host Carson Kressley with male dancers, the producers said absolutely not. Producer Deena Katz cited the traditional rules of ballroom dancing and presentation:
“I’m surprised when people get upset about the partnering. This is not a social dancing show, it’s a dancing competition. A man should dance with a woman, no matter what your sexual orientation, in ballroom. If I’d put Chaz with Mark (Ballas), for example, it would have looked like I was trying to make controversy. We’re not setting people up on dates.”
But this doesn’t even matter! Let’s break down the problems with this line of thinking:
The issue is partnering celebrities with a dancer of the gender they’re sexually attracted to, ostensibly for better chemistry.
The suggestion was to partner Carson and Chaz with guys so that they’d feel more comfortable.
Carson is attracted to men; Chaz isn’t.
See how this is offensive? The assumption is because Chaz got a sex change, he’s a gay male. In reality, he was born female and, as Chastity, came out as a lesbian. He started dating fiance Jennifer Elia when he was still Chastity. Throughout this all, Chaz has been attracted to women.
It’s situations like this that undermine the transition that Chaz has made and is still making. Whoever first brought forth this idea doesn’t consider Chaz a man. It’s as simple (and disappointing) as that.
