The force behind Jazz Jennings is unconditional love
him wear that?” Jeanette simply responded, “Because that’s what she wanted to wear today.” She and Jazz then walked away with their heads held high.When the story went national, the Jennings family saw an opportunity to improve life for trans youth everywhere.
So when Jazz was six, she and her mom sat for a national TV interview with renowned journalist Barbara Walters. Nearly eight years later, the Jennings family appeared in the reality series “I Am Jazz,” sharing the challenges they faced raising an adolescent teen.Dozens of families wrote afterward to thank them, especially since the media rarely showed positive representations of trans people.“I’ve always felt it’s a child’s birthright to be loved unconditionally, but it hasn’t always been easy,” Jeanette said. “Jazz has faced adversity her entire life: She’s been bullied, harassed and banned from sports and the bathroom, but she’s always had the love from her family to help try and over the rough time.”The proud mother has continued her advocacy of trans youth by establishing the Transkids Purple Rainbow Foundation, a group that supports trans youth and educates the community about their needs.“I was so fearful for her future that my husband and I, we did as much as possible to make her life as happy as possible, knowing what the road ahead could be for her,” Jeanette said.
