America's most-famous transgender man will be lacing up his dance shoes this fall, much to the dismay of transphobic TV viewers.
Chaz Bono, the only child of Sonny and Cher, has signed onto the season 13 cast of Dancing with the Stars, set to air Sept. 19 on ABC.
The announcement has sparked national controversy and elicited anti-trans rants all over the internet as some complain that ABC is forcing trans issues on the public. Others argued that watching Chaz on the show might corrupt children and turn them transgender.
LGBT groups have hailed the news as a milestone in transgender representation on TV.
"At a time when transgender representation in the media is sorely lacking, Chaz Bono joining the cast of a series like Dancing With the Stars is a tremendous step forward for the public to recognize that transgender people are an important part of the fabric of American culture," said Herndon Graddick, senior director of programs at GLAAD, in a news statement.
However, others were less thrilled with the announcement.
Message boards on ABC.com quickly filled with transphobic tirades after the announcement. Some fans said that Bono's participation would discourage them from watching the show. Others simply complained this season's entire cast which includes David Arquette and The Hills reality star Kristin Cavallari was not star-worthy.
Fox News published an opinion piece discouraging parents from letting their kids watch the show. The piece, written by Dr. Keith Ablow, whose work includes a self-help book co-authored with Glenn Beck, asserts that transgender people are lying about their genders.
"It is a toxic and unnecessary byproduct of the tragic celebration of transgender surgery that millions of young people who do watch "Dancing with the Stars" will have to ponder this question: Maybe my problems really stem from the fact that I'm a girl inside a boy's body (or a boy inside a girls body)," Ablow wrote.
LGBT groups across the country jumped up to show their support for Bono. The Human Rights Campaign asked its twitter followers to tweet their support for him, setting off a flood of support for Bono.
Bono's mother has also been vocal on the issue. Cher, whose reactions to Bono's transition have been mixed in the past, sounded off on her twitter account about what she called "vicious attacks" against her child.
"Mothers don't stop getting angry with stupid bigots who fk with their children!" Cher wrote.
Bono has appeared confident, publicly stating that his appearance on the show is a test of America's tolerance of transgender people.
"I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support I received from everyone," he tweeted. "Thanks so much. I don't listen to the haters, but embrace the love."
Bono joins a cast that includes HLN's Nancy Grace and Carson Kressley, the gay stylist best known for his role on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.
GLAAD praised ABC for including both a transgender and a gay man on the show this season. GLAAD also noted that ABC received a "good" rating on its annual Network Responsibility Index, which ranks television networks on their portrayals of LGBT characters.
Bono becomes the third transgender character on mainstream TV currently. Transgender fashion model Isis King will re-appear in the upcoming season of "America's Next Top Model" while Jordan Todosey continues to play a transgender boy on "Degrassi." According to GLAAD, two episodes of "Hung" will also feature a transgender character this year.
Bono will be dancing with Lacey Schwimmer, who has appeared on past seasons and was a finalist on "So You Think You Can Dance."
Twitter feeds from Bono fans and LGBT groups are abuzz with excitement over the news, congratulating Bono and commending ABC.
"Keep your chin up Chaz Bono," one person wrote. "And don't let these folks get you down."