Bruce Jenner spoke for the first time about how he is ready to put a lifetime struggle with gender identity behind him -- embrace being transgender and live the rest of his life as a woman.
“I’m actually really excited about the future ... about what I could do to be able to do some real good in the world, so I’m actually, for the first time in my life, looking forward to the future,” Jenner told ABC’s Diane Sawyer in an exclusive interview that aired Friday in a two-hour special edition of ABC News’ “20/20.”
During the interview, Jenner referred to himself using male pronouns and ABC News has chosen to follow his lead, though he also referred to himself as “Bruce” and “her.”
Jenner said he was excited and nervous about the transition that is already underway.
“Some people will get it, some people won’t get it, it’s OK,” Jenner said. “It’s going to take a lot of guts the next few months to go through this, especially just doing it publicly.”
Complete Coverage: Bruce Jenner -- The Interview Bruce Jenner: 'I'm a Woman' Gender Identity Versus Attraction: 'It's Apples and Oranges' Says Bruce Jenner 7 Questions Answered About Transgender PeopleJenner has long hair again and is taking female hormones, saying “just kind of takes the edge off.”
In regards to full surgery, the transgender community asks that everyone respect others’ privacy and to steer away, but Jenner was open to taking about his decision in his interview with Sawyer, saying he has not decided anything yet and “Those things are all things that are out in the future for me to explore.”
Though any steps forward would include at least a year living as a woman as well as references, and even though Jenner said he already has those referrals.
Jenner showed Sawyer a closet of women’s clothes and told her how he hosts “girls' nights” at home with the curtains drawn. Jenner also plans to change his gender identity on his driver’s license.
Jenner has received love and support from family and friends, who said it will be an adjustment.
“I asked him, you know, ‘What do you want us to call you?’” said Jenner’s oldest daughter, Cassandra Marino. “And he just interrupted me and just said, ‘I’m Dad. You know, you can call me dad… I will always be your dad.’ And that was just a huge relief.”
Brody Jenner said: “I think all the traits that I loved about Bruce, she still has."
Bruce Jenner: When Did He Know How Bruce Jenner Told His Children About His TransitionABC News reached out to Kris Jenner for this report, but she declined to comment.
Jenner’s fashion style will be more “conservative” than his famous stepdaughter Kim Kardashian, and he said he will change his name, though he joked that his new moniker will not start with a “K.”
A perfect day, Jenner said, would be to have just “an ordinary day that she can go out and enjoy herself, and not have any lies, have a great lunch, ... not being harassed by people, being accepted by society.”
“I just like blending in,” Jenner added. “That’s all I want to do is just blend in.”
As for getting married again, now that this path of transition has started, Jenner isn’t sure.
“I can’t even figure that side of it out,” Jenner said. “I just want to have a free soul, and have a lot of great friends.”
“I’m going to learn a lot in the next year,” Jenner added. “2015 is going to be quite a ride."