With Lindsay Lohan and Ellen and Rosie it’s starting to feel like becoming a lesbian isn’t quite as weird and rare as it used to be. But for an entirely different part of the LGBT community, the struggle is still in its early stages.

When I started dating women, it was far less controversial and scary to come out. The older lesbians I meet share their war stories and the histories I read make it clear to me how difficult the process could be, but it wasn’t part of my experience. Not to say things are perfect, but younger gay women in large cities – especially on the east coast – have to admit, things are a lot easier.

But, my generation also has seen a new visibility for the transgendered community. And that process – gaining access to hormone treatments, deciding on surgery or more than one surgery, coming out to parents and friends, navigating relationships when genders change – is one that is still very controversial and scary.

And there sure aren’t a lot of role models out there.

But tonight and tomorrow night Chaz Bono, the son of Cher, will be the subject of a two part interview on the trans experience in the U.S. He will talk about the process of recognizing his gender despite his physical appearance, the decision to begin the transition process and the effect of the drugs on his system. Mostly, he’s just a guy in a nice relationship going through something a lot of people in the U.S. experience or will experience. Except he’s doing it publicly.

I’m excited for this special. I’m excited that Chaz has chosen to share his experience. It’s not enough to have gay and lesbian visibility in the U.S. We need LGB and T visibility. Only then can we change the public perception to one of acceptance and support.