“I’m not ‘bi,’ ” proclaims comedian Margaret Cho in Beautiful, the film version of her comedy concert. “I am ‘I’!”

Of course, defying convention is nothing new for this pop icon who seems to have made a career out of opening society’s eyes — as much with brash humor as with enlightenment. It’s been said that only those who can make us laugh at ourselves can tell us who we are, and that’s exactly what the “Notorious C.H.O.” does.

One thing’s for sure: With two projects now in the spotlight —Beautiful and Drop Dead Diva, a new series on the Lifetime network — these are busy times for the actress-activist. She wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I think my favorite experience so far — just for the sheer enjoyment of what I’m doing — comes at the moment of making these stand-up specials,” she said, noting that her favorite thus far has been this latest, which debuted in July on the Showtime network.

“I’m really proud of it,” says Cho. “Everything about it felt so good.”

The show was shot at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach, Calif., and even the venue had added significance: It was where Richard Pryor, a comic hero of hers, also once filmed.

Whether she’s working on the active business of being funny or the often-funny business of activism, though, this one-time “celeb-reality” star say she feels fulfilled.

This is especially true of Drop Dead Diva, in which she plays Teri, the loyal assistant to a brainy-but-“big-bodied” lawyer whose body (through a divine mix-up) houses the soul of a supermodel. At first glance, Teri could simply be another character holding up the background, but this is gay America’s favorite rapid-fire funny lady we’re talking about, after all, so you can rest assured that all her scenes have the kind of charm that only she can bring.

In the show, she said, “There’s some fun things coming up that I’m excited about — we get to see Teri developing.”

“I hope that people watch it because I think this too is great — it’s got a really refreshing attitude.”

Fanciful setup notwithstanding, the likably eccentric “dramedy” addresses issues that many viewers are sure to identify with, such as office politics and unfair competition, insecurities about body image and what makes a person attractive.

Cho says the greatest challenge facing LGBT people today is the fundamental fight for equality.

“To me, it’s a very basic struggle,” the entertainer says. “To be acknowledged as equals and to have our families acknowledged as equal — this is our biggest challenge.”

A native of San Francisco, Cho says she grew up quite comfortable around those with a same-sex preference even though she was raised in what she describes as a “strictly conservative, evangelical household.”

“My family was super Christian,” she says with a laugh, “but my parents owned a bookstore that happened to be in a gay neighborhood and happened to be the ‘gay’ bookstore!”

Recalling how her parents unknowingly purchased the store, she details with great amusement how “my very conservative family had to learn how to accept the gays and lesbians — and they did! In fact, they had a business where they employed only gays and lesbians!”

Perhaps one of the most remarkable aspects of living where and when she did is that it gave her the chance to experience a significant part of queer history up close.

“This is exactly during the Harvey Milk times,” she said. “I remember thinking he was great and really being very upset at his death. I was probably like 9 or something, but there was a lot of awareness about that -- and a lot of people I knew attended the candlelight vigil.”

So potent was this memory that it influenced the person she would become.

“It was really amazing to be a part of all that,” Cho said, “and it speaks to my ideas about how I wanted to live. …I wanted to follow in those footsteps that Harvey Milk did. In fact, starting off as a stand-up comic, I did a lot of work for AIDS and stuff like that. Much of my background comes from these kinds of movements.”

The surprising thing about talking with Cho (particularly after seeing Beautiful,) is that she seems far more laid-back and even demure than the no-holds-barred persona she presents onstage. Could this be due to her move to Georgia earlier this year where life could be described as … well, more conservative?

“I’m beginning to understand conservative people more,” she said. “I mean the people that I’ve met are so kind and nice — they’re lovely and yet they give money in order so that gays can’t get married in California! There’s definitely a ‘disconnect’ there, but I think they just don’t understand.”

When it comes to coaxing tightly closed minds to open up, Cho offers some wisdom.

“I think it’s not about approaching it with a sense of anger, but more trying to be compassionate” she said. “It’s not that these people are so filled with hatred — it’s that they’re filled with fear because they don’t want their lives to change. We need to impart the understanding that even if they allow gay marriage, even if they allow gays and lesbians to adopt, this will not affect the lives of these people. If they could understand that all we want to have is families — just like they have families — that would be the key.”

Smart, witty and wise is a rare combination today, and we’re fortunate to have all three in someone working so hard for “our” side. Still, despite her tireless efforts on behalf of gay and lesbian people everywhere, in the end, how does she want to be remembered?

“I hope that it’s that I was funny,” she smiles. “Simply making people laugh — that’s enough!”

Where to See Margaret Cho:

• She will perform Friday, Oct. 2, in the VooDoo Lounge at Harrah’s Casino North Kansas City.

• Beautiful is set to be released on DVD on Nov. 17, according to Cho’s website (margaretcho.com).

• Drop Dead Diva can be seen Sunday evenings on Lifetime (check listings for exact time).