Jazz Jennings’ mom breaks down in tears as she recalls how her transgender daughter was made fun of

Jazz Jennings’ mom is opening up about how she had to defend her transgender daughter from a young age, saying she was “always putting out fires” to protect her.

Tuesdays episode From the family’s TLC reality series I Am Jazz, Jeanette Jennings, 56, reflects on the challenges Jazz, 22, faced when she was in preschool in Florida, where she was born and raised.

The transgender activist, who was assigned a boy at birth, began verbalizing that she was a girl as soon as she could speak. After being diagnosed with gender dysphoria, she transitioned into a female when she was in kindergarten.

‘With Jazz, when I was little or, you know, underage, I was always putting out fires before they burned. I walked her to preschool, everyone was whispering and pointing and looking down on us,” Jeanette explains in a preview clip shared by People.

Assigned male at birth, Jazz transitioned to female when she was in kindergarten after being diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

Jeannette recalled how people would point fingers at her and her daughter when she was in preschool, saying she was “always putting out fires” to protect Jazz (pictured as a girl).

I held my hand up and I held my son’s hand and I said, “We’re going to go in there and we don’t care what the other kids think and we don’t care what the parents think. You’re special.” You are unique. It’s you and I’m so proud of you and I’m so proud to be your mom,” and I say this to a four-year-old.

Jeanette points out that Jazz was having a hard time at school because of who she was and needed to be cheered up.

“I had to tell her this because she was upset that the other kids were making fun of her for acting like a girl, and I had to tell her, ‘Okay, be you. You do and we’re here for you.’ . We love you no matter what,” she recalls.

The episode features Images of Jeanette Speaking Up for Transgender Children as Jazz at a TransAction | March for Equality in Florida.

“Today there will be a board meeting to decide if gender-affirming care will be allowed in the state of Florida,” she explains. “And they need someone to speak up for children and support hormone blockers and I am that person.”

Jazz started taking hormone blockers when she was 11 and has been candid about how they “saved lives.”

“Medical professionals told us that 40 to 50 percent of children like Jazz would attempt suicide without their gender-affirming care,” Jeanette explains in her speech.

“Jazz herself has told us that if she were forced to go through male puberty, she would have taken her own life. When she was a child, she had nightmares about having facial hair.

Jeanette says that she always encouraged Jazz (pictured with her father and siblings) to be herself, insisting that she was “special” and “one of a kind.”

Jazz, who is now a student at Harvard University, remains incredibly close to her mother.

The new episode also features footage of Jeanette speaking on behalf of other transgender children at a TransAction | March for equality in Florida

Jazz notes in her testimony that her mother is an “important” advocate in the trans community, saying, “I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for my mother.”

“After extensive guidance from medical professionals, we promised that we would do everything we could to make sure Jazz was able to live like a girl,” she adds through tears. “And she’s fulfilling her dreams of changing the world on her own terms, as a student at Harvard University. I love you darling.’

Greg Jennings praised his wife, Jeanette, in his testimony as he shared his unwavering support for her and their daughter.

“Jeanette is a great advocate and, you know, we’re proud of her for doing that,” he says. I can’t always be where she is, but I am there in spirit. I think that’s true for the whole family. As long as any of us are, whether we’re together or one of us is there, we’re all on the same page fighting for the same cause.’

Last fall, despite protests from the trans community, Florida banned gender-affirming care for trans youth, including puberty blockers and hormone therapies to treat gender dysphoria.

Jazz also opens up about her bond with her mother during the emotional episode.

“I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it weren’t for my mom,” she insists. “She spreads so much unconditional love to everyone, and she’s not just family to her, she’s an advocate, an important force for the community.

“I am beyond blessed to have my mother, and I am very, very proud of her.”