You Might Like
Congress Participates in “I Am Jazz” National Day of Action on Capitol Hill
Yesterday, several members of Congress joined parents, teachers and youth advocates across the nation in support of transgender youth, supporting readings of I Am Jazz, a book by transgender teen and HRC Foundation Youth Ambassador Jazz Jennings.
Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), a member of the Transgender Equality Task Force, read the book from the floor of the U.S. House.
“Last year, legal threats from the anti-LGBTQ hate group forced the school in Wisconsin to cancel plans to read this book to support a transgender student,” she explained on the floor. “The local community rallied holding a reading at the library that drew more than 600 attendees in support of the student. Now this is a movement, with readings across the country to increase understanding and to show young people that they are welcomed and loved. I’m proud to join these readers today from the House floor.”
Rep. Mike Honda, who has a transgender granddaughter, and Rep. Joe Kennedy also tweeted their support for the National Day of Action.
Today across the country kids are reading #IAmJazz. Thanks @RepSpeier for reading this book in Congress to show support for #trans kids.
— Rep. Mike Honda (@RepMikeHonda) April 28, 2016
#IAmJazz tells story of the love + compassion transgender children deserve. Thx to my friend @RepSpeier for joining those reading it today!
— Rep. Joe Kennedy III (@RepJoeKennedy) April 28, 2016
The national reading effort was sponsored by HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools program, the National Education Association (NEA) and the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC).
HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools is the nation’s premier resource for LGBT-inclusive professional development tools, lessons and resources that help elementary schools across the nation embrace family diversity, prevent bias-based bullying and gender stereotyping, and support transgender and gender-expansive students. HRC’s Welcoming Schools has created this guide to help organizers of “I Am Jazz” reading events build more affirming and supportive spaces for transgender and gender-expansive youth across the country.
Speier, Honda and Kennedy all received a perfect score on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard.
You Might Like
