49- JAZZ JENNINGS — Teenager transgender activist
Broward County resident Jazz Jennings has been a trailblazer since her birth in 2000. In 2004, she was diagnosed with gender identity disorder, making her one of the youngest people publicly documented to be identified as gender dysphoric. Barbara Walter’s then interviewed Jennings and her family in 2007, highlighting the struggles the family endured raising a transgender child.
Since then, Jennings has catapulted to become the face of transgender youth. She was a featured guest at the GLAAD Media Awards in 2014. That same year she was also named one of “The 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014” by Time, and recognized as the youngest person ever featured on Out??‘?s “Out 100” and Advocate??’?s “40 Under 40” lists. She was also named a Human Rights Campaign Youth Ambassador and received Logo’s 2014 Youth Trailblazer Award.
In 2015, the reality series I Am Jazz premiered on TLC, featuring Jennings and her family “dealing with typical teen drama through the lens of a transgender youth.” The series received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, shining the spotlight on important issues facing transgender teenagers and their families.
