When Conservatives Threaten School For Reading Book About A Transgender Girl, The Community Response Was Perfect

A few weeks ago, out in Wisconsin, the Mount Horeb Area School District announced that the Primary School now had a transgender student and so classes would be reading I Am Jazz, a children’s book based on the real life experiences of teenage trans superstar Jazz Jennings.

And Jazz Jennings applauded the school administrators:

“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.”

All well and good, until the Hate Group, AKA the Liberty Counsel — infamous for its representation of Kentucky Kounty Klerk Kim Davis — threatened a lawsuit on behalf of a few upset parents.

The district canceled the reading.

But last week, the community countered the cancellation by hosting a public reading of I Am Jazz for the nearly 600 people who crammed into the Mount Horeb public library , including a 72-year-old who “came here to learn” and a 4-year-old eager to be friends with the transgender student, who she did not even know. And I Am Jazz co-author Jessica Herthel even flew in to perform the reading.

The event sent a very clear message as to where the community stood. And so, this week, the Mount Horeb School Board unanimously passed a series of new measures to accommodate transgender students throughout the district; the measures include access to restrooms and locker rooms in accordance with their gender identity.

Though a few parents objected during the meeting’s open comment period, their concerns did not resonate with the board.

“Let the word go forth here and now that this board will stand united and we will not be intimidated and we will teach tolerance and will be accepting to everyone.” — Board member Peter Strube

Though the family is protecting the identity of the transgender 6-year-old, her mother thanked the board and said she is glad to be part of the school district and hopes the measures help many other trans children too.

The march goes on … one school, one mind, at a time.

Think Progress