Biography of Chastity Bono

Chastity Bono is the author of Family Outing, a collection of coming-out stories, including her own, and suggestions. Offered in a positive context, the information provides intelligent and sympathetic advice for those who wish to come out and for their families, friends and colleagues - all of who need to understand and be understanding.

Formerly the entertainment media director of the Gay and  Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), a national media watchdog organization, Bono promoted fair, accurate and inclusive representations of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to combat discrimination in the media.

She is an expert on how characters should be portrayed and how to control the content of today's movies, music, video, and TV shows. Much of her time was focused on Ellen and the "coming out" episodes; she was a consultant, and developed the national "Coming Out With Ellen" campaign.

Bono, herself, had come out as a lesbian on the cover of The Advocate magazine in April 1995. As a staff writer there, her memorable interview with her mother, Cher, was one of the highest selling cover stories in its history. In 1996, she traveled throughout the country as the National Coming Out Project spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay and lesbian political organization, addressing gay and lesbian groups on community issues and the importance of coming out.

As a child, Bono appeared regularly with her parents on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. A graduate of New York's High School of Performing Arts, she attended New York University, Tisch School of the Arts film program. In 1990, she left NYU to pursue a career in the music industry, and founded the band Ceremony as its singer, songwriter and percussionist. Geffen Records published the band's only album, Hang Out Your Poetry, in 1993.