TLC reality star Jazz Jennings can’t contain her excitement regarding her upcoming gender confirmation surgery!
The transgender teen took to YouTube earlier this week to discuss the long-awaited surgery. Jazz said her surgery is scheduled for June 26.
“I am so looking forward to it. I have been ready for this my entire life,” Jazz said of the surgery, which has been a major topic of discussion on her reality show, I Am Jazz.
In the video, Jazz said some people told her that she shouldn’t be sharing all of the personal details of her story; however, she is choosing to be open about it in hopes that it will educate people who are inside and outside the transgender community. She said she hopes seeing her story will help the parents of other transgender kids.
Jazz didn’t hold back while discussing how different life will be for her once she gets the surgery.
“I’m gonna have new genitalia,” she exclaimed. “Like penis to vagina! That’s some serious s**t, y’all! I can’t believe I’m gonna have a vagina!”
She said she will miss being able to pee standing up, but she is looking forward to being able to wear leggings and other clothing options that she can’t wear comfortably right now.
“I have been looking forward [to the surgery] forever,” Jazz told us. “Even at a young age, I knew.”
Jazz talked about a therapy session she attended at three years old where her therapist held up a boy doll and a girl doll. Jazz said that she told her therapist she wanted to be the girl doll.
She said she has confidence in her surgeons but she is a little nervous because the surgery she is having is a little different than the standard gender confirmation surgery.
“Because I started the [testosterone] blockers so early that I never went through puberty…basically the blockers block testosterone in my body so I don’t develop as a male and get a beard, a mustache, a deep voice. That’s why I’ve been able to be so feminine,” she said. “Because of that, it caused me to be so suppressed that I didn’t have growth in ‘that’ region.
“Because there was a lack of tissue [down there] they didn’t have enough material to construct the entire vagina, so they’re using a special procedure where they extract my peritoneal lining.”
(We’ll save you the trip to Google; the peritoneal lining is a tissue lining found in the abdominal cavity.)
“It’s regenerative, so it will regrow and whatnot,” Jazz said. “They take that out laparoscopically through my belly button or whatever. They use that and harvest that and use that to make the vaginal canal. It’s better because it looks like real vagina tissue and it feels more like real vagina tissue.”
According to Jazz, this type of surgery is still experimental, which makes her a bit worried.
“It’s a little concerning because something could go wrong,” she admitted.
Jazz said she will be documenting her surgery journey on her YouTube channel and on her TLC show, I Am Jazz.
Watch Jazz talk about her surgery in the video below:
(Photos: YouTube, Instagram)
46 Responses
Okay so between this article about Jazz and watching TLC’s Lost in Transition, I have a genuine talking point: if a woman was to go to a doctor and say she believed she was meant to be handicapped, and wanted him to sever one of her limbs, what would his response be? Probably this woman is mentally ill, right? Example: There was a Dr. Phil episode awhile back where a woman believed she was meant to be blind and so she blinded herself with chemicals because no doctor would do it for her, it would be considered “mutilation” and she was deemed mentally ill. So my question is why are these forms of self mutilation taboo, but when it comes to a persons genitals it’s considered a genuine disorder? I support whatever people want to do, if you really believe doing this to your body is going to make you happy, be my guest. But Jazz, in my opinion, is still FAR too young to be doing this to her body permanently. I believe they should only allow transitions for adults and let the body develop naturally because who knows what this will do to children long term, but that’s just me.
I wish Jazz could have been able to experience puberty and feel what its like to be an actual boy before making the drastic decision to fully transition to become a woman. I just hope that she is making the best decision for her and doesnt have any regrets in the future
I admit that I am not an expert on anything, but I do understand that it feels to feel like your outside doesn’t match your inside. When I sleep, I dream about being healthy and able bodied. It’s hard knowing that the first thing people notice is the wheelchair, but that’s not what defines me as person. If this surgery helps her to be at peace with her body, then I wish her the best. I know that a lot of people don’t agree, but I wish them all of the happiness in the world too. Everyone deserves to be accepted and loved.
She acts like an entitled little snotball toward her parents and her siblings. I don’t think that’s going to change – I think she just wants the attention that is heaped upon her.
This is a radical surgery that she isn’t even able to articulate (she’s using the big words like laparoscopic and peritoneal but she doesn’t know where they are getting it from? Her belly button or whatever? Is it your belly button or not??). What’s going to happen once she has the surgery and then she’s no longer different from the other girls? Then what will she do to pull the attention back to her?
I agree so much! I can’t stand this kid. Such a bad attitude about EVERYTHING and so self-centered.
Will somebody give it a vagina so it will shut the fuck up and realize there is a whole world out there of normality where no one besides your tv money hungry parent gives a shit?
1 MILLION likes..Chicken Lips!! Well said!!
Jazz,
I am so happy for you. I have been following you for the whole time.Do not binge eat anymore.
Know that we will all be routing for you.
God bless
Dale and family
This shouldn’t be a hot-button issue. People are who they are, and should be entitled to physically manifest that in HOWEVER way they choose. Not everyone has to agree on how another chooses to present themselves, but we should ALL be mature enough to recogniz that WHO a person is does not change based on their appearance. Jazz will be the same person she is now after the surgery. She will just be a HAPPIER version of that person, and THAT is what counts.
It absolutely should be a hot button issue. Science says the brain isn’t fully developed until 25, but a three year old decided his gender and then was STERILIZED thru hormone blockers and next surgical mutilation before her 18th birthday…If you think that’s okay, it’s not. Transition regret is real, and many people who identified as trans were actually on the spectrum or had identity disorders that manifested as gender dysphoria. Children are off limits in every regard, except genital mutilation? It’s ridiculous. We gasp at third world countries for performing female circumcisions but we allow children in the US to be cut and sterilized. Makes NO sense. (Again, this is about CHILDREN not adults.)
I wonder if she’s doing in the states or overseas? I can’t see an American doctor doing that. I also read on Facebook that she has to keep it open with daily expanders, wtf! I think she’s nuts and her mom is pushing it.
From the little I’ve seen, her mom actually wanted her to wait till she was older. She’s a mom and worried about her kid undergoing surgery just like anyone else.
As early as my kids developed their identities, I totally believe Jazz knew when she was tiny, that she wanted to be a girl.
Wait… what?! Where did you read this? I tried to google it but I don’t want all that in my search history lol
It’s going to be an open wound. Think giant piercing if piercings are left they close. Pretty much the same idea.
This is bs it should be child abuse to let your child have surgery to change their gender. These parents dropped the ball and failed terribly with th is BOY. it sickens me to see this trainwreck.
I think 3 is fat too young for someone to declare their gender. I know three year olds who identitify as dinosaurs and puppy dogs. That being said I think “jazz” has been living this way for so long “she” truly doesn’t understand the gravity of things. Of the episodes I watched one made it clear this child didn’t clearly understand their situation. They visited a doctor and Jazz was concerned because her female friends were developing breasts and she wasn’t, it seemed she didn’t understand why. I would not want a minor choosing gender reassignment as it’s a painful and life long commitment full of risks of infections additional surgery and daily care. Her description of the surgery using mostly filler words like whatever and whatnot can even show there’s perhaps lack of understanding. This won’t make a vagina it won’t function as a natural vagina, it’s an open wound meticulously cared for and kept open by daily stretching etc. Downvote away.
That actually articulates my concerns much better than I did. I can’t help but wonder if this would be happening at such a young age if there were no TV show needing a storyline.
If you can learn how to live like a woman,you also can learn to live like a man….
What is causing people to be confused about their gender? Is it all the pharmaceuticals in our water supply, or the hormones in our meat. Something is causing a chemical imbalance that is fucking up people’s heads.
I struggle with her doing this so young. When I was little like 3/4 years old I remember I was desperate to be a boy. I hated that I was a girl. I only hung out with the guys. I went to a private school that required girls to wear dresses and it crushed my soul, but my parents let me wear boys clothes outside of school. I played football, soccer, video games, Pokémon, and kept short hair. I was truly one of the guys. Then when I was 17 I just snapped out of it. I had a hard time letting everyone know I wanted to do more feminine things since I had basically been a boy for so long, but I eventually let my hair grow, and bought clothes from the girls section. I even became interested in dating for the first time, and actually met my husband like 2 months later. All I’m saying is I’m glad my parents didn’t give me what I wanted. I would cry for hours as a kid wishing I was born a boy because I felt like a boy. Turns out it was a phase… a phase that last 17 years but I did grow out of it. I know everyone is different, I’m just worried for her making these big decisions, the pressure she may feel from being a public figure and because her young age. Either was I support her though
I wish you good luck and speedy recovery and made the pieces of the puzzle fall into place.
Hi Jass I’m very interested in becoming a transgender woman, and i do think that you are beautiful and i would love to get HRT treatment, so could be like you, l would love it if you could help me get started with my transition
First of all, I am VERY pro LGBTQ. That being said, I am concerned about Jazz’ age and having such radical surgery done. She has become ver famous, and likely, contributed to her family’s support, from the show. Has she even been allowed to make sure this is what she wants to do? Maybe she has questions but can’t – or won’t – voice them because the show would NOT go on if she does. If Jazz knows this is best, then I support her. I am just wondering if she has had a real chance to make sure she wants surgery for herself rather than a storyline.
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I agree, but honestly she’s so outspoken my gut feeling is that she really wants this. I personally wouldn’t allow my minor child to do this (because of how risky it is) but I do think that she’s doing it for the “right” reasons
She’s had to see multiple psychologists and talk to multiple different doctors all of whom had to approve her for this. It’s not as easy as getting a nose job or something like that. She’s been seeing therapists since she was three years old and they followed her journey going to psychologists who would approve the surgery. They didn’t just agree right away with no push back. They made sure that she was mentally sound and emotionally sound and they even had her overcome things like binge eating before she could have her surgery, so it’s something she’s definitely worked for and worked at, and she’s constantly made the decision over and over and over again to continue on to the next step of the process. It’s not something that you just decide to do one day and then you go to the doctor and they just do it. It’s incredibly hard to get gender confirmation surgery and if someone wasn’t wholly sure about wanting to get it done, there are plenty of opportunities along the way to ch age your mind, or delay it.
Wishing Jazz the best in her upcoming procedure! Love her story, her family that supports her totally, and what she has done to educate us about transgenders.XOXO
Happy for her and hope everything will be all right.
The suicide rate for transgenders is over 40% because it’s a mental illness.
On the contrary, the LGBTQ community has higher suicide rates because they are targeted by hate groups, and many suppress their total self in exchange for streamline acceptance. Imagine being shunned, disowned or being mistreated by the people closest to you for just being yourself.
“A psychological state is considered a mental disorder only if it causes significant distress or disability. Many transgender people do not experience their gender as distressing or disabling, which implies that identifying as transgender does not constitute a mental disorder. For these individuals, the significant problem is finding affordable resources, such as counseling, hormone therapy, medical procedures and the social support necessary to freely express their gender identity and minimize discrimination. Many other obstacles may lead to distress, including a lack of acceptance within society, direct or indirect experiences with discrimination, or assault. These experiences may lead many transgender people to suffer with anxiety, depression or related disorders at higher rates than nontransgender persons.”- American Psychological Association
No, their suicide rate is higher because they struggle in a society that marginalizes them, defines their sense of self as a mental illness, forces feelings of self loathing on them.
Many people, of every gender, alignment, religion, race, social class, etc. have been unable to remain psychologically healthy when raised in a deeply critical and oppressive environment. This is no different, and you are contributing to the problem and not the betterment of society.
Exactly.If you can learn how to live like a woman,you can also learn te live like a man.
Exactly.If you can learn to live like a woman,you can also learn to live like a man.
The suicide rate is that high because they constantly face a body they don’t feel like they belong in…then they have awful judgemental people in their face, all day, telling them they’re freaks, and they’re worthless ,and they should kill themselves. Maybe they don’t have the mental issues…maybe it’s the people that feel like they have a right to literally torment someone into suicide.
Instead of getting surgery his family should have gotten him help. This is clearly a mental issue. You think you’re in the wrong body. You’re not. You’re just ill. People need to stop letting mentally ill live in fantasy land. Tell them the truth. And fyi real women are born with vaginas. I know my post will get a ton of downvotes and I don’t care. It just means that you guys are just as delusional as these people.
I’m on your side with this issue. I don’t follow “jazz” except for this site, but if your parents allowed you to take meds to prohibit your normal life cycle and you didn’t go through puberty, how do you know what your body wants. Boys play with dolls, that doesn’t make it acceptable for your parents to decide at that young of age that you are a girl now. Parents seem to want attention and got it through this show. How many times has protective services been called on this family? What happens when this boy doesn’t like his vagina, then what? Makes me sad that issues like this get so much attention. Straight people should start running around shouting they are straight. Would they get as much attention as a transgender (minor)?
Psychology disagrees with you, terf
http://www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/transgender.aspx
Also, most people do have to see a psychiatrist/therapist. It usually has to be done before they can even transition and then the psychiatrist/therapist encourages transition, writes referrals for hormones & surgeries and so on. Why? That’s the only way it can be dealt with. Medicine & therapy don’t work. Sorry to break your world view (not really sorry, lmfao).
Terf? You realize that’s not an insult like you want to believe it is. Just some lame word just like the whole cis nonsense. They suffer from gender dysphoria, dimwit. That’s an mental issue.
Yup, us not being asshles means we’re delusional lol.
So what about the people that are born female but for whatever reason don’t have a functioning vagina? They’re not real women either? Nature absolutely makes “mistakes” occasionally.
Literally said real women are born with vaginas. What part of that don’t you get? So if she’s born with one then guess what…she’s a female. Doesn’t matter if it works or not. If you have to cut your penis in order to achieve a vagina then guess what…..that does not make you a female and never will. You’re just a mentally ill male with a mutilated penis. You get it now?
Um I think you’re the one that didn’t get it. I said what about people that are born biologically female, but don’t have a vagina? You’ve never heard of people being born with deformaties? What about people that are born with male and female organs? What are they?
Not sure why all of the down votes, Amy, yours were all valid queries.
Wow!! I pray the surgery goes well and she does not have any complications. The fact that type of surgery is “experimental” concerns me. As with any surgery, there are risks of complications. Agree that she is blessed to have a supportive family.
She is blessed to have such a supportive family who accepted that she was transgender at such a young age and who guided and supported her through the process. She has had to put up with such a large amount of public hate and shaming just for living her life as she truly is. She’s also very lucky that her family was financially able to support her transition and pay for all of the hormones and now the surgery. These things are mostly considered elective and “not medically necessary” in America, so even if she and her family have health insurance, it’s expensive to complete the physical transition.
I wonder if she, her doctors, and her parents discussed that it would be more difficult to have gender confirmation surgery if she went on the hormones and testosterone blockers so early. I think there’s going to be discussions going on about what is the best way to help and support transgender youth. Do you have them go on hormones and hormone blockers early enough to block puberty and make them feel comfortable with themselves during their preteens and teens, but then have to do the more difficult, riskier gender confirmation surgery? Or do you do nothing medically until they’re older and then do the easier, less risky gender confirmation surgery?
Jazz will have to go through less procedures because of the blockers and hormones. She won’t have to shave down her Adam’s apple, laser off her hair, feminize her face, she will be less tall, her shoulders won’t be as broad, feet won’t be as manly, etc. A lot goes into transitioning later on and looking like your true gender. The main issue with blockers and hormones is that it helps with all the mental health issues that come with puberty. Going through puberty is hard enough but would imagine it would be traumatizing as the other gender. Her family seems very loving and they are just following her lead. Also seems like she has done tons of therapy. This is not an easy surgery to get. You need to spend a lot of time in therapy to qualify. Don’t think gender reassignment is super simple or comfortable in the first place. They are all relatively big surgeries so hope everything goes well and she has no problems post op.
From what I’ve heard, it’s more “ideal” to have never gone through puberty before gender confirmation surgery. Obviously, not everyone has supportive parents like Jazz so waiting until adulthood (and after puberty) is what has to happen for a lot of trans people.