Meet Jeanette, Jazz Jennings' Mom, from I am Jazz

03/07/23 • 91 min

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.

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 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

Trans Kids Purple Rainbow Foundation

The Family Acceptance Project