Becoming Pro Bono

It wasn't my intention to time this blog to GLAAD's Spirit Day, but things just worked out that way...I would call "Dancing with the Stars" a guilty pleasure, except I feel no guilt over it. There's something gleeful and innocent about a show that brings together people to compete not for money or prizes, but a mirrorball trophy. Still, I was never a fanatical viewer; my participation depended on how invested I became in the contestants. I sort of tuned out during seasons like Nicole Scherzinger (what fun is it when the obvious winner is a gorgeous, athletic woman whopreviously belonged to a song and dance group). But then I would watch every episode of Jennifer Grey's season with baited breath, rooting the "Dirty Dancing" star on.Going into Season 13 (holy cow!), I didn't really have much investment in any of the contestants. They had the typical archetypes filled: the older participant (Nancy Grace), the athlete (Mehta WorldPeace), the redeemed wild child (David Arquette)and I was aware of some grumbling surrounding the casting of Chaz Bono, advocate/author/son of Cher/transgender man. But because I am blessed to live in Los Angeles in the year 2011, I really didn't think it was a serious controversy.How wrong I was. First, Monica Cole of the America Family Association made an announcement stating: "We will not be able to watch the show with Chaz on there. This is going to be very confusing for children and should not be included in their cast." Then, in one of those sweeping statements that would be funny were the person not actually serious, Fox News' Dr. Keith Ablow said children could "turn transgender" from watching Bono on the show. His actual insipid quote: "It's possible that if someone is celebrated and lifted to heroic proportions like that of a civil rights leader, that somebody who is somewhat uncomfortable with his or her gender might say, 'You know what, I'm going down that road.' " CONTINUE READING ON BEHIND THE SCENES