A school in Wisconsin has canceled a
reading of I Am Jazz, a children's book written by transgender
student Jazz Jennings.
Jennings, 15, is also the star of the
TLC reality series I Am Jazz.
According to Seventeen
Magazine, Mount Horeb Primary Center last month sent a letter
to parents informing them of the upcoming reading.
“We believe all students deserve
respect and support regardless of their gender identity and
expression, and the best way to foster that respect and support is
through educating students about the issue of being transgender,”
the letter stated.
A group of parents represented by the
Christian conservative group Liberty Counsel took action, threatening
a lawsuit against the school. Liberty Counsel called the reading a
“propaganda session.”
Jennings responded to the controversy
in an op-ed.
“My book can help, I think, but I
know from my own experience that it is adults like my parents and
[school principal] Johnson who can make sure that transgender
children are treated fairly at school and given the same
opportunities to succeed in life,” Jennings said. “Growing up
transgender can be a challenging experience, and we need our parents,
schools, and friends to stand by us so we can breathe easily. We
want the same thing – to be who we are and feel safe and supported
in this world.”