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South Bend LGBTQ to host reading of on transgender children's book

Children's Book 'I Am Jazz'

 

Community centers, libraries and schools across the country are reading one book Thursday, in an effort to raise awareness and education around transgender children.

 

The book is ‘I Am Jazz” written by reality TV star and transgender child activist Jazz Jennings.

The reading movement started when a parent in Wisconsin wanted the book to be read to her child’s class in an effort to explain her daughter’s transition to her classmates. The school faced backlash and cancelled the reading. A local library hosted instead. That story is on a video from the Human Rights Campaign.

Now a nationwide reading event is scheduled for tomorrow.

One reading will happen at South Bend’s LGBTQ Center. Jason Wilkinson, the center’s Executive Director, said the book is a great resource for parents to explain a difficult topic in a child-friendly way.

“I don’t know how to explain this to my kid, this is a great way to do it. It’s great for teachers, it’s great for parents to be able to use. I wish there were books like this on the rest of the LGBTQ spectrum because it is such an easy way to talk to kids about it.”

The reading is one of only two in Indiana, the other is in Highland. There are two readings in Michigan, both in Metro Detroit, and three planned near Chicago.

Local drag queen Lavender Maxine will be reading in South Bend. The event starts at 6 p.m.