In today's episode, we’re thrilled to be joined by Jeanette Jennings, mother of the amazing spokesperson, YouTube and TV personality, and LGBTQ+ rights activist, Jazz Jennings. You may know Jazz and Jeanette from their popular award-winning docuseries, now in its 8th season on TLC, I am Jazz. Jeanette is also the President and co-founder of the Transkids Purple Rainbow Foundation, which helps transgender youth.
Jazz was diagnosed with gender dysphoria at age three and socially transitioned at 5. She is one of the youngest publicly documented people who have identified as transgender. In 2007, when Jazz was only six years old, her story caught mainstream media's attention when Barbara Walters interviewed her and her family for 20/20.
Throughout our conversation with Jeannette, we learn about the blessings and the most challenging parts of Jazz's journey as a transgender child, how Jeanette has fought for Jazz’s rights, and the support they received from friends and relatives. Jeanette also talks about how important it is for transgender kids' parents to set their egos aside and make informed decisions seeking the best for their children. We can see how Jeanette and her wonderful spouse of almost 30 years, Jazz's dad Greg, have done exactly that.
We also discuss gender-affirming care, the story behind the interview with Barbara Walters, an interview with Oprah, and tons of behind-the-scenes golden nuggets from Jazz's family reality show, I am Jazz.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
A bit about Jazz's journey as a transgender kid (6:15)
A family in transition (10:47)
Jazz's experiences in kindergarten as a girl. How Jeanette learned to pick her battles (19:01)
The most challenging parts of Jazz's transition (28:27)
About the American states that don't provide gender-affirming care as a political decoy (42:43)
What we can learn from transgender people's life experiences (58:29)
Some behind-the-scenes stories from the show I am Jazz (1:09:13)
Resources:
I am Jazz on TLC: [ Ссылка ]
Trans Kids Purple Rainbow Foundation: [ Ссылка ]
The Family Acceptance Project: [ Ссылка ]
Interview with Barbara Walters: [ Ссылка ]
Follow Jazz on Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
The Jennings Family on Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
If you prefer to listen to this episode, it's on Apple here: [ Ссылка ]
and on Spotify here: [ Ссылка ]
or ACast here: [ Ссылка ]
Connect with Jeanette:
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
Connect with Jackie and Bridget:
Transgender Support: Becoming a True Ally Video Course on Vimeo: [ Ссылка ]
Transgender School Patreon Membership with all exclusive content: [ Ссылка ]
Transgender School on Medium: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
Website: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Community Facebook Group: [ Ссылка ]
YouTube: [ Ссылка ]
