Posts Tagged "trans youth"
2015 Time To Thrive Speech by Debi Jackson
I was asked to speak at this year’s Time to Thrive Conference, hosted by HRC in Portland, Oregon. Time to Thrive is an event focused on educating professionals who work with LGBT youth about their unique issues, struggles, and needs. I was introduced by another amazing PFLAG mom, Betty DeGeneres! My speech this year told more of our daughter’s story, a painful part of the journey that I don’t often talk about. I felt it was important, though, for people working with at-risk youth to really understand what those risks can be. And I also challenged parents to be more accepting of their LGBT kids and to really advocate for them. HRC has resources that can...
Read MoreWhen Your Trans Child Comes Out Unexpectedly
AJ and her friend Jasmine announced they are transgender to the whole Brownie troop tonight. I don’t think I breathed for about four minutes. Jasmine was visiting and during intros was asked if there was anything she’d like to share about herself. She said “Well, I’m transgender.” My heart almost stopped. I thought I’d be more prepared for that kind of moment than I was. But she was amazing. She explained what being trans is and then AJ jumped in with “And I’m transgender, too! We both are.” The girls had a couple of questions but they all took it in stride. One even jumped in and said “We can learn about...
Read MoreDebi Jackson Will Be Featured at HRC’s National Time to THRIVE Conference
Time to THRIVE is a national conference for youth-serving professionals hosted by the Human Rights Campaign. Attendees include K-12 educators, mental health providers, pediatricians, religious leaders, recreational athletic coaches, and youth development staff (Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs, scout leaders, etc.), working together to support the LGBTQ youth population. Time to THRIVE’s goal is to build awareness and cultural competency, learn current and emerging best practices, and gather resources from leading experts and national organizations in the field. I am thrilled to announce that I will be a speaker at this year’s conference in Portland, Oregon, in...
Read MoreIf I Was Leelah’s Mom
Leelah Alcorn is pretty much all I’ve been able to think about for the last few days. My family is all snug at home, enjoying time together during the holiday break and staying inside playing games to escape the bitter cold. But even surrounded by warmth and happiness, my husband and kids, I think about Leelah. I’ve wrestled with various emotions when thinking of her parents. Anger, possibly a little hatred, a lot of pity, and a tiny sliver of understanding. I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt, to think that they loved Leelah deeply but were overwhelmed and confused, trying to understand but finding it to be a struggle. I didn’t want to...
Read MoreJohn Jolie-Pitt: How long is a phase?
In the last couple of weeks, the story of Shiloh/John Jolie-Pitt has made the rounds of the internet. Thanks to having such famous parents and appearing in photos wearing boys’ clothing in the last few years, there has been ongoing speculation about John for a very long time. Most of the coverage, though, has taken quotes from an article from the UK and a rather dubious “expert.” (I’m not going to link to those stories because I don’t want to lend credence to the stated opinions.) In these articles, Brad and Angelina are quoted as saying John has been using this name at home since the age of three. John is now eight. Five years. Five long...
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