In a powerful interview with ABC News Olympic gold medallist Bruce Jenner admits he’s finally ready to talk about his journey to becoming transgender.
The first thing Bruce touches upon is that it’s hard to say 'he’s transgender' because of fear of disappointing people, he explains to interviewer Diane Sawyer.
“I look at it this way Bruce always telling a lie. He's lived a lie his whole life about who he is. I can't do that any longer,” reveals Bruce.
The 65-year-old continues to explain: “For all intents and purposes, I am a woman.
“People look at me differently. They see this macho male, but this female side is part of me, it’s who I am. I was not genetically born that way.”
Bruce said that he had been undergoing hormone therapy for a year and a half but had not made up his mind about reassignment surgery and declined to provide the name he might use during or after his transition, citing privacy concerns.
When asked by ABC News if he was gay Bruce responded: “No I'm not gay. As far as I know I'm heterosexual I have never been with a guy. I've always been married, raising kids.”
The former athlete revealed the first woman he told about his tendencies to cross-dress was his first wife, Chrystie Crownover.
“These are my issues and this is what I deal with, I didn't go heavy but I said I did a bit of cross-dressing. But I had bigger issues than cross-dressing,” explained Bruce. “And like most women she thinks oh I can fix that by nurturing, most women think that, I never really thought I could make it as a male gender for my whole life.”
Bruce’s third wife, Kris Jenner, and his six children and Kardashian step-children have been his biggest supporters. His first two wives, Chrystie and Linda Thompson also expressed their support.
“To be honest being Bruce isn’t easy,” he explains before he goes on to discuss that the first thing his mother said when he told her was: ‘Oh my gosh is it my fault?’.
His reponse to his mother was: “I said you didn't cause this it's the way I am it's the way I was born.”
Bruce admits he couldn’t tell his story on the reality TV show K_eeping Up With The Kardashians_ although he believes it was the 'one thing that could make a difference with people’s lives.'
The father-of-six said that when he told his children, “They all cried, mainly because they don’t want anybody to hurt Dad.” And it was Khloe Kardashian who had the ‘toughest time’ when she found out.
Bruce said: “Khloe is very emotional she's had the toughest time with it because she's had a lot of losses in her life. She lost her father at a young age. Lamar had his issues. She feels likes there’s this massive… ‘My whole life is falling apart,’ you know, ‘it’s my dad,’ and I try to explain… but I’m not going anywhere. I’m still going to be there for you. Kourtney's only concern is her kids. With all of the girls it's tough on them and I understand that and I wouldn't rush that issue.”
Bruce spoke of his step-daughter Kim Kardashian having the biggest support for him because of a motivational conversation she had with Kanye West.
He told Diane: “Kim told me a story, she said, ‘Do you know what really turned me around thinking about this?’ She goes, ‘Kanye.’ I go Oh ok. They were talking about it and he says to Kim, ‘Look, I can be married to the most beautiful woman in the world, and I am. I can have the most beautiful little daughter in the world. I have that. But I’m nothing if I can’t be me ... if I can’t be true to myself they don’t mean anything,’ … and since then, Kimberly has been by far the most accepting, and the easiest to talk to.”
Later on in the interview Bruce said: “If this is the only problem I have in life, I've got it made, if it's only this then I'm okay. I've got my health, my family and seven grandchildren. I hope I'm going to be okay, 2015 is going to be quite a ride.”
After the interview aired his children (Kim, Khloe, Kourtney Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner) and many other celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, Lady GaGa and Sam Smith all showed (on Twitter and Instagram) their support for Bruce’s brave decision to discuss his personal life with the world.
E! will reportedly show his transition in a documentary series that will begin broadcasting this summer.