SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Chaz Bono is officially a man and has his new name.
A judge on Thursday granted a request to change the name and gender of the 41-year-old writer, activist and reality TV star.
Chaz Bono was born a girl to Sonny Bono and Cher and was originally named Chastity. She underwent a gender-change operation last year to become a he.
Bono was represented in court by lawyer Kristina Wertz of the Transgender Law Center. Wertz says the judge's order is an important step in Chaz Bono's transition and will allow him to reflect his new identity on a variety of official documents.
Wertz says in a statement, "Chaz couldn't be happier."
