Oprah was unusually candid with with transgender model Lea T today, using the word ‘penis’ with ease and not worrying about TV network censors who closely monitor any discussion of body parts.

Oprah raised a key question that we hadn’t considered, to be honest. “How do you hide your penis?” Oprah asks, flashing a few gorgeous images of Lea T on stage. Lea answered with charm and frank grace, saying it hurt. Stupid us; we hadn’t thought of that.

We’ve followed Lea T since day one, and the Oprah viewer onslaught has resulted in tremendous traffic here at AOC — our single biggest hour ever and we’re going strong.

Talking about her condition Lea T says:

“I wish I could accept my body as a man. I think [my life would be] much more easy…But it’s something in my brain. Medically, it’s a disorder. I tried to live as gay because its easier…like all transgenders do… but at the end of the story when you go to the doctors, they realize you don’t have any homosexuality, because your brain is like a woman’s brain. When you’re transgender, you feel like a woman. So I prefer men.”

Lea says — and not for the first time — that her Brazilian soccer star father has been very supportive of her. Mom less so. Reflecting on her mother’s deep Catholicism, Lea says “It’s a fight with her religion. But she’s always nice to me.”

We also learn that Lea must get court permission in Italy to have her sex change surgery. This sex-change authorization process should move along in Italy, especially with Lea being a high profile applicant, and one of these days — no more penis.

Anne of Carversville respects Lea for being willing to humanize this gender identity discussion for millions of people around the world by appearing on Oprah.

Lea T, Anja Rubik, Karen Elson | Mert & Marcus | LOVE Magazine S/S 2011

After the endless buildup, LOVE S/S 2011 is out. The first images of Lea T, Kate Moss & Natalia Vodianova are sensually gorgeous and unexpectedly artistic.