Chaz Bono (Photo by Simon Russell/Getty Images)
Chaz Bono has been one of the world's most outspoken advocates for LGBT issues, traveling and speaking internationally since the mid-'90s. But soon he'll take his message to a brand new spot - the halls of Degrassi High.
Born a girl to Cher and Sonny Bono as Chastity Sun Bono, he first came out as a lesbian to his parents when he was 18 and publicly in 1995. In 2008, he began the process of changing from female to male, and legally changed his name to Chaz Salvatore. He has written books about his coming out and was even the subject of the documentary "Becoming Chaz." He's clearly comfortable discussing his sexuality with the world, so he jumped at the chance to guest star on "Degrassi" when he met the show's producers at last year's Emmy Awards -the show was nominated for an episode about Adam, a teen born as a girl struggling to live as a boy.
"Degrassi" producer and actor Stefan Brogren says Bono "is a ridiculously perfect fit" for the show, which was shot on Thursday and will air halfway through Season 12 which premieres July 16. Bono will appear as himself at a Battle of the Bands competition, where Adam's band WhisperHug will perform.
Bono says he most likely would have started his transition as a teenager, if only he had known what a transgender person was. The fact that there are now popular TV shows about the subject shows just how far LGBT awareness has spread.
More on OMG! Canada
Kanye West gives Jay-Z a gold skull