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Chaz Bono's Casting On DWTS Causing Controversy -- Accused Of ‘Tearing Down Traditional Families’

By:Radar Staff

Aug. 30 2011, Published 8:30 a.m. ET

By RadarOnline.com Staff

The gay and lesbian community are rallying around Chaz Bono following Monday's announcement that he will be the first transgender contestant on Dancing With The Stars, but some right-wing groups are not as happy about the increase in diversity on national TV.

A spokesperson for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) told RadarOnline.com that the move is a big breakthrough for the community. “At a time when transgender representation in the media is sorely lacking, Chaz Bono joining the cast of a series like Dancing With The Starswould be a tremendous step forward for the public to recognize that transgender people are another wonderful part of the fabric of American culture,” said Herndon Graddick, Senior Director of Programs at GLAAD.

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However, a spokesperson for the Media Research Center, which “seeks to bring balance to the news media and prevent liberal bias from undermining traditional American values” thinks that it is a step too far.

“Whether it’s Glee or Dancing With the Stars, this is part of Hollywood’s insistence on tearing down traditional families," Dan Gainor, VP of Business & Culture at the Media Research Center, told RadarOnline.com. "Parents now more than ever must realize they cannot let their kids watch television without supervision or risk advocating lifestyles that most families do not approve of."