Chaz Bono Says that Gender is Between Your Ears, Not Between Your Legs

Chaz Bono might be the most famous transgender person in the world. But despite the public scrutiny that comes with being born to two rock legends -- Sonny Bono and Cher -- Chaz Bono is living through the process of transitioning from female to male with an eye toward what his experience could mean to thousands of people struggling with or questioning their own gender identity.

"To me, gender is between your ears and not between your legs," Bono said on Good Morning America, adding that since childhood he always identified more with men than women. "I'm not looking [at being a campaigner] but I struggled a lot getting here. If by being public about it other people can see this and not struggle quite as much as I did, then I'm really happy to do that. If I can help make things easier legislation wise, then I'm happy to do that."

That legislation comment is certainly relevant to a bill being debated in Congress right now that would make it illegal for employers to discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is likely the next piece of LGBT legislation to be voted on in Congress, and while it stands a very good chance in the U.S. House (it passed there in 2007, albeit without a gender identity provision), its outlook in the U.S. Senate is a little more murky. ENDA has never faced a vote in the U.S. Senate, though a cursory count of the Senate shows that the bill stands a good chance of passing.

Chaz's story is certainly one of the best opportunities yet, it seems, to create some public awareness about transgender and gender identity issues. That he's willing to help legislatively only bodes well for the future of ENDA.

It will take Chaz roughly four or five more years to fully transition from female to male. But after nearly nine months of hormone therapy, Bono says that he's happier now than ever before.

"I feel so much more comfortable that I've ever been," Bono said. ""I'm just a little more focused on the 'T' now then I am on the 'L' and the 'G.'"

As for Cher, the singer has already thrown her full support behind Chaz.

"Chaz is embarking on a difficult journey, but one that I will support," Cher said in a statement this past summer. "I respect the courage it takes to go through this transition in the glare of public scrutiny, and although I may not understand, I will strive to be understanding. The one thing that will never change is my abiding love for my child."

Good Morning America did a bang-up job in this interview with Chaz. It might just be the longest feature yet from a major broadcast network that talks about gender identity. Yes, it's focused on the celebrity aspect of this story, but at its core is a message about the difficulties that people struggling with their gender identity face, as well as why transgender issues need to be a part of the public debate about equal rights. And that's all the more timely, given that last week marked the 11th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Check out a video clip of the interview below.