Chaz Bono appeared confident, unfazed by detractors, and proved to be adept on his feet while performing the cha-cha with Lacey Schwimmer on last night's Dancing With The Stars.
ABC let audience anticipation build for Bono and Schwimmer as the couple was the last to perform. The judges were generally complementary. The pair earned 17 points out of a possible 30.
Bono earned higher marks from his mother as Cher tweeted approval of her son's previously untapped dancing skill. After watching the live feed, she sent a message via Twitter that read, "WOW ! HOW GREAT WAS MY SON THE GREATEST THING, GREATEST THING, GREATEST THING NO MATTER WHAT! WHAT! WHAT!" HE'S A WINNER! I Was So Nervous."
Cher's nerves didn't surprise her son. "My family hasn't seen this side of me before," Bono tells People magazine. "I was nervous going into it, but I was also excited. I think it went pretty well. There were certain little things that I messed up or didn't do, but it was good and it was fun. I had a good time doing it."
Bono remains pragmatic about changing the minds of the show's conservative viewers, who threatened to boycott because he is transgender. "There are certain people who are never going to change their view about anything that's out of their comfort zone," he says. "I went out there and did the best I could for all the people who have been supporting me. I've received tremendous support from people."
Attorney Gloria Allred kept her promise to attend a viewing party at Micky's, a gay nightclub in West Hollywood, to counter-protest conservatives who feel Bono is a bad influence on impressionable viewers. TMZ posted footage from the event that shows Allred dancing with activist Robin Tyler and entertainer Calpernia Addams, among others.
A special meet-the-cast episode of Dancing With The Stars will air prior to the live results show tonight. To learn how to vote for Bono and Schwimmmer, click here.
Watch Bono and Schwimmer immediately below and Allred further below. Let us know what you think Chaz's cha-cha in the comments section.
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