 |
Author and activist Chaz Bono, the only child of famed entertainers Sonny and Cher, will give a free public lecture at the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012. The event is part of the campus’ commemoration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month. It will take place at 7 p.m. at UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South.
Bono came out publicly in an April 1995 interview with The Advocate magazine. Since then, he has become a national activist for the rights of LGBT citizens across the country. He has served as a writer-at-large for The Advocate as well as a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign that promotes National Coming Out Day. He also was entertainment media director for Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
Bono, who lives in Los Angeles, has written three books: Transition: The Story of How I Became a Man; Family Outing: A Guide to the Coming Out Process for Gays, Lesbians and their Families; and The End of Innocence. His first documentary, “Becoming Chaz,” received a standing ovation at its 2011 debut at the Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for three prime-time Emmy Awards.
Amidst death threats, Bono braved the stage and starred on the 13th season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” His greatest fulfillment, he says, is raising awareness about LGBT issues by speaking to college students and hosting workshops on tolerance in the workplace.
The event is sponsored by the UAB Vice Provost for Student and Faculty Success, UAB Student Life and the UAB Lecture Series.