Transgender at 11: Listening to Jazz Jennings | 20/20 | ABC News

Summary

The script tells the inspiring story of Jazz, an 11-year-old transgender girl who, with the support of her family, openly identifies as female despite being born biologically male. Jazz's journey, from early childhood to advocating for transgender rights, showcases her resilience and the challenges faced by transgender children in society.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Jazz is an 11-year-old transgender girl who was born biologically male but identifies as female.
• 🏡 Jazz's parents, Jeanette and Greg, supported her early transition from male to female, recognizing her gender dysphoria.
• 👧 Jazz is described as vibrant, happy, self-confident, and feminine, enjoying activities like soccer and cheerleading.
• 👗 Jazz's bedroom is filled with girly items, including dresses and dolls, reflecting her true identity.
• 🎨 A drawing by Jazz of a little girl crying because she wants to wear a dress to school but can't, illustrates her early struggle with her identity.
• 🌈 Jazz's family, including her three siblings, are supportive and protective, helping her navigate the challenges of being transgender.
• 💬 Jazz has faced negative reactions and threats from people who do not understand or accept her transgender identity.
• 🏫 Jazz has been allowed to attend school and participate in activities as a girl, including playing on the girls' soccer team, after a legal battle.
• 🏆 Jazz is an advocate for transgender rights, receiving awards and recognition for her bravery and visibility.
• 💔 Jazz is aware of the potential challenges in dating and relationships due to her transgender identity, but remains hopeful and resilient.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video script about Jazz?

The main theme of the video script is about Jazz, an 11-year-old transgender girl, and her journey of self-acceptance, family support, and advocacy for transgender rights.

How does Jazz describe herself in terms of gender identity?

Jazz describes herself as a girl, stating that she has a 'girl brain' and a 'boy body,' and she considers herself a girl.

At what age did Jazz's parents allow her to openly identify as a girl?

Jazz's parents allowed her to openly identify as a girl at the age of five.

What is the term used to describe Jazz's condition?

Jazz's condition is referred to as 'gender dysphoria.'

What does Jazz's drawing of a crying little girl represent?

Jazz's drawing of a crying little girl represents her desire to wear a dress to school, which her mother initially wouldn't allow, symbolizing her struggle with gender identity.

How does Jazz feel about her sister referring to her transgender status as a 'disorder'?

Jazz does not like the term 'disorder' and prefers words like 'special' or 'unique' to describe being transgender.

What challenges has Jazz faced from others due to her transgender status?

Jazz has faced negative reactions, including being treated differently and receiving hateful comments, including threats, from people who do not understand or accept her transgender identity.

How did Jazz's family react to her being transgender?

Jazz's family, including her parents and three siblings, are supportive and accepting of her, trying to make her life as normal as possible.

What impact did Jazz's YouTube video have on her?

Sharing her story on YouTube led to Jazz receiving both support and negative comments, with some people making very nasty and rude remarks, which hurt her.

What legal battle did Jazz have to fight to play soccer as a girl?

Jazz had to fight a legal battle for two and a half years to win the right to play on a girls' soccer team, after being initially banned by league officials due to her biological sex.

What is Jazz's perspective on dating and potential rejection by boys?

Jazz is open about being attracted to boys and acknowledges that she might face rejection due to her transgender status, but she believes that anyone who declines her because of it is not right for her.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Triumph Over Gender Dysphoria: Jazz's Remarkable Journey

This paragraph introduces Jazz, an 11-year-old transgender girl who has courageously embraced her identity despite being born in a male body. Jazz's story is one of resilience and acceptance, as she and her family navigate the complexities of gender dysphoria. At a young age, Jazz's parents, Jeanette and Greg, made the pivotal decision to support her transition, recognizing it as a deep-seated condition rather than a fleeting phase. Jazz's bedroom, adorned with feminine items and a poignant drawing of a girl yearning to wear a dress, underscores her unwavering identity. The narrative also touches on the challenges Jazz faces, such as societal misunderstanding and the legal battle she won to play soccer as a girl, marking a significant step forward for transgender rights.

05:02

🚀 Jazz's Advocacy and the Challenges of Growing Up Transgender

The second paragraph delves into the repercussions Jazz faces for publicly sharing her story, including the hateful comments and threats she receives on social media platforms like YouTube. Despite these adversities, Jazz continues to advocate for transgender rights, using her platform to educate and raise awareness. The paragraph also highlights her achievements, such as receiving awards and meeting celebrities who support her cause. As Jazz enters middle school, she faces the typical challenges of adolescence, including the complexities of dating and the fear of rejection due to her transgender identity. However, Jazz remains optimistic, knowing that anyone who cannot accept her for who she is may not be the right match for her.

Keywords

💡Remarkable

The term 'remarkable' is used to describe something or someone that is unusual or extraordinary and worthy of attention. In the context of the video, Jazz is described as 'remarkable' because, despite being born biologically male, she has bravely embraced her identity as a transgender girl, challenging societal norms and expectations.

💡Transgender

Transgender refers to individuals whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. Jazz identifies as a transgender girl, meaning she was born with male biological characteristics but identifies and lives as a female. The video highlights her journey and the challenges she faces due to her gender identity.

💡Gender Dysphoria

Gender dysphoria is a medical term used to describe the distress a person may feel due to the sex and gender they were assigned at birth. In the script, Jazz's parents and doctor recognized her condition as gender dysphoria, indicating that her identification as a girl was not a phase but a deep-seated and persistent feeling.

💡Early Transition

Early transition refers to the process of changing one's gender presentation and/or sex characteristics from male to female or vice versa at a young age. Jazz is one of the youngest documented cases of an early transition from male to female, which the video emphasizes as a significant aspect of her story.

💡Mermaids

Mermaids are mythical creatures with a human upper body and a fish tail. In the video, Jazz and other transgender children are described as having an obsession with mermaids, possibly due to the ambiguity of their lower bodies, which parallels the children's own ambiguity regarding their gender identity.

💡Acceptance

Acceptance in this context refers to the support and recognition of Jazz's gender identity by her family and friends. The video mentions that Jazz's family is very supportive, treating her as a normal and ordinary member of their family, which is crucial for her well-being and self-esteem.

💡Advocacy

Advocacy involves actively promoting or supporting a cause. Jazz is portrayed as an advocate for transgender rights, using her story and experiences to raise awareness and fight for the rights of transgender individuals, as evidenced by her participation in events and receiving awards.

💡Legal Battle

A legal battle refers to a prolonged conflict or dispute that is resolved through legal proceedings. Jazz had to engage in a legal battle for over two years to win the right to play soccer as a girl, highlighting the discrimination and challenges faced by transgender individuals in various aspects of life.

💡Discrimination

Discrimination is the unfair treatment of a person or group based on certain characteristics, such as gender identity. The video script mentions that Jazz has faced discrimination, with people treating her differently and making derogatory comments because she is transgender.

💡Support System

A support system consists of people who provide emotional, psychological, or practical help to someone. Jazz's support system includes her family and friends who accept and protect her, illustrating the importance of a strong support system for transgender individuals.

💡Self-Confidence

Self-confidence refers to a person's belief in their own abilities and worth. Despite the challenges she faces, Jazz is described as self-confident, vibrant, and happy, showing that having a strong sense of self can be a powerful tool in overcoming adversity.

Highlights

Jazz, an 11-year-old transgender girl, has courageously brought her 'terrible secret' into the open, representing children born in the wrong body.

Described as vibrant, happy, and full of life, Jazz exhibits self-confidence and a strong feminine identity despite her biological sex.

Jazz's parents, Jeanette and Greg, made the extraordinary decision to allow her to openly identify as female at the age of five due to gender dysphoria.

Jazz's early transition is one of the youngest documented cases, challenging the notion that it is merely a phase.

Jazz's bedroom is filled with girly items, indicating her persistent desire to live as a girl, not just a passing fad.

A picture Jazz drew as a child shows her longing to wear a dress, which her mother now allows, reflecting her family's support.

Jazz's interests, such as cheerleading, girls' soccer, and creating mermaid outfits, are all traditionally feminine, further emphasizing her identity.

The ambiguous genitalia of mermaids may appeal to young transgender children who are uncomfortable with their own anatomy.

Despite growing awareness, Jazz and others like her still face significant obstacles and prejudice from society.

Jazz experiences discrimination and misunderstanding from people who do not grasp the concept of being transgender.

Jazz's family, including her three siblings, are supportive and protective, helping to maintain a sense of normalcy.

Jazz's sister explains her condition to others, though Jazz prefers the terms 'special' or 'unique' over 'disorder'.

Jazz and her family have faced online harassment and threats after sharing her story on YouTube.

Jazz's parents lobbied for her to be enrolled in school as a girl, and her passport also identifies her as female.

Jazz was initially banned from girls' soccer due to her biological sex but fought back and won the right to play after a legal battle.

Jazz's victory to play soccer as a girl set a precedent for all transgender children, opening doors for them in sports.

Jazz is an advocate for transgender rights, receiving awards and recognition, and serving as a spokesperson for trans kids.

Jazz is navigating the complexities of adolescence, including the prospect of dating and relationships with boys.

Jazz remains optimistic about finding acceptance and love, showing resilience in the face of potential rejection.

Transcripts

good evening they are the words that any

parent would want to hear about their

daughter

she is such a remarkable little girl for

a girl named jazz

the word remarkable doesn't begin to

cover it

at just 11 years old she has taken what

most children and their families

would regard as a terrible secret and

brought it smashing

into the open she is the brave and

beautiful

new face of a child born in the wrong

body

describe jazz vibrant

happy full of life self-confident

beautiful glowing feminine

so feminine she wears pink cleats on the

soccer field

she likes my new bra and padded bras she

not only dreams of mermaids

she swims like one if you didn't know it

would you believe

this 11 year old girl was biologically

a boy let's get this straight jazz are

you a boy

or a girl i am definitely a girl

like that's all i consider myself as i'm

sorry i know i never do anything with my

hair but

jazz is transgender a boy living as a

girl

i have a girl brain and a boy body hi

when we first met jaya's in 2007 she was

only six years old

and one of the youngest documented cases

of an

early transition from male to female

we'll say things like god made you

special because there aren't very many

little girls out there that have a penis

at age five her parents jeanette and

greg

made an extraordinary decision they

allowed jazz to

openly identify in the opposite gender

because they and their doctor were

convinced this was not a phase

but a condition now called gender

dysphoria

a phase is called the phase because it

is just that it

ends and this is not ending this is just

getting stronger

as difficult as it is for people to

understand

you only had to walk into jazz's bedroom

as i did

oh how pretty to know this was not a

passing fad

it was filled with girly things dresses

and dolls

but it was a picture she drew that made

jazz's world

crystal clear tell me about this picture

why is

the little girl crying because she wants

to wear the dress to school

and mommy won't let her yeah but now

does mommy

let the little girl wear a dress

is the little girl you

five years later jazz is still jazz

has jazz shown any desire to change and

go back to being a boy

never today jazz's bedroom is lined with

photos from cheerleading

and girls soccer she draws and sews

carefully seaming together her own

mermaid outfits

it's like the motion makes you feel like

you're an actual mermaid

in fact many young male to female trans

kids are obsessed with mermaids

i believe because the ambiguous

genitalia there's nothing below the

waist but a tail

and how appealing is that for somebody

who doesn't like what's down there no

one knows why thousands of children like

jazz

are transgender they're only theories

mom is that a mermaid

despite growing awareness many still

face unthinkable

obstacles from a world that sees them as

freaks of nature

do people treat you differently when

they know you're transgender

yes they do they don't understand what

the concept means and

they think that i'm weird and that

i shouldn't have the same rights as them

just because

of what's between my legs you know that

there are people who think you could

have prevented it

why did you allow it to happen yeah

there's people definitely think that

and what do you say i don't really care

what they think

jazz is fortunate her parents and three

siblings accept her

and as much as they can keep us safe

which is why they asked us not to use

their last name or location

i think the family is very supportive of

jazz we've tried to

make things as normal and ordinary

american family as we can

the older twins are always looking out

for jazz

ari the older sister and her friends

hang out with jazz they treat

jazz like a little sister what do you

explain to people about your sister

i tell people that it's a disorder and

that

it wasn't it's not by choice how do you

feel jazz when your sister says it's a

disorder um

personally i don't like that word that

um that much i'd prefer

special or unique because that's what i

think being transgender is

but others have different words to

describe jazz

hateful words as they discovered after

posting this video on youtube

hi i'm jess i'm 11 years old i was born

a boy

but i live as a girl sharing jazza's

story has come

at a price are you ever worried about

your safety i mean does anybody

threaten you yeah um on the youtube

video some people who are

less understanding actually say very

nasty and rude comments

it definitely hurts to hear them say

that

they would want to kill me or something

like that they can't wrap their mind

around

the idea of a transgender kid and i want

to tell everybody they're wrong and show

them jazz because when people meet her

they start to get it one go

jazz has a handful of girlfriends

they've all started middle school

a challenging and precarious time but

especially

for a transgender tween she's enrolled

in school as a girl

thanks to her parents lobbying and her

passport even shows her

as female the faculty and some students

know about her

special situation she uses the girl's

bathroom

and even plays on the girls soccer team

you love to play soccer

yeah and you're pretty good at it right

yeah yeah

but at the age of eight she was banned

from girls soccer by league officials

what do you say to people who say well

you know she's biologically a boy

therefore she's stronger and she

shouldn't be on that team

i do not agree with him because i am

like one of the smallest people on my

team compared to the other girls they're

all

very tall and more masculine and i'm

sort of smaller but

i am quicker jazz fought back

and after a two and a half year legal

battle won the right

to play as a girl

an unprecedented victory that opened the

door for all

transgender kids jazz is clearly making

a difference

and embracing the spotlight advocating

for transgender rights

receiving awards housing on the red

carpet

meeting stars like deborah messing and

riding in new york's

gay pride parade she's a wonderful

spokesperson

for trans kids because she's a happy

transgender kid and those two words are

never in the same sentence

happy but perplexed by her latest new

challenge

you are getting to the age jazz

when girls and boys date are you

attracted to girls or to boys

i'm attracted to boys are you afraid

that you might

not have dates with boys i am a little

bit

but if any of the boys decline me

because of my situation then i just know

they're not right for me at all