I AM JAZZ
Community Reading

Sponsored by PFLAG Cape Cod

Thursday, April 28

5:30 pm

Teachers, parents and other allies all across the nation are signing up for a national day of action Thursday, April 28, 2016, in support of transgender youth. These readings -- in schools, libraries, bookstores, even your own home -- will help increase understanding and build more inclusive environments for young people who need to know they are welcomed and loved.

Want to sponsor an event at other locations?! Check out the hrc.org website for more information. 

In late 2015, an elementary school in Mount Horeb, WI., planned a reading and discussion of the children’s book, I Am Jazz, as part of their efforts to support one of the school’s students — a six-year-old transgender child who had recently socially transitioned and was attending the school openly as the girl she knew herself to be.

Prior to the reading, an anti-LGBT hate group learned of the event and threatened to sue the school, calling for the school to cancel the discussion. But the Mount Horeb community rallied behind the school and the transgender student. A parent in the community organized a reading of I Am Jazz at the local library.

The audience — full of children, parents, grandparents and community members — put courage before fear and turned out to learn more about how they could support the full humanity of transgender children and youth in their own backyard. Now, communities all across the nation are asking to host their own events — inspired by the Mount Horeb community.

The Human Rights Campaign — through HRC’s Welcoming Schools program — is encouraging parents, teachers, students, school administrators and communities to create their own readings in support of transgender youth. HRC has created this guide to help organizers build more affirming and supportive spaces for transgender and gender-expansive children and youth across the country.