Chaz Bono and Jennifer Elia are engaged

(CBS) - With his gender reassignment surgery behind him, Chaz Bono says he is ready to move forward in his relationship with longtime girlfriend, Jennifer Elia.

The couple, who have been together for nearly six years, announced they are engaged on the "Piers Morgan Tonight" show and said they are hoping to tie the knot "within a year."

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"We've been engaged actually for two years," Bono said. "We're big supporters of marriage equality and that's kind of weird now to be able to do that."

Bono, who was born Chastity to singer and actress Cher and the late Sonny Bono, explained that they "had to put things on hold a little bit" while he underwent his gender  transformation

The 42-year-old detailed his sex change journey on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" last week, and also chronicles his transition in the documentary "Becoming Chaz."