Jazz Receives Prestigious Colin Higgins Youth Courage Award

On June 25th, 2012, 11 year old Jazz was awarded the Colin Higgins Youth Courage Award at the TREVOR PROJECT GALA in New York City. She gave a heartfelt acceptance speech to a room full of 1,000 adults including celebrities like, Susan Sarandon, Debra Messing, Eric McCormick, Stanley Tucci, Anthony Rapp plus many others.

Jazz is the youngest recipient of the Colin Higgins Youth Courage Award. She was poised and self confident and is an inspiration for other transkids.
The Colin Higgins Courage Awards were created to honor ordinary yet remarkable individuals whose courage helped to educate and enlighten others about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer experience.

While in New York, Jazz and her family marched in the NYC Pride Parade, and had an incredible interview with Barbara Walters.

A new 20/20 special about Jazz and her family will air in October of 2012.

To read more about the Colin Higgins Award visit ColinHiggins.org. For more information about the Trevor Project visit TheTrevorProject.org.


16 Comments

  • […] Read more about Jazz at TransKidsPurpleRainbowFoundation.org […]

  • […] Read more about Jazz at TransKidsPurpleRainbowFoundation.org […]

  • Tony says:

    Jazz, you are the most courageous person I can think of. But the finest qualities you have – superb level-headedness, objectivity, and love of all people “of good will” – those have nothing to do with your gender identity. Those are qualities of the finest people on earth regardless of gender identity. Godspeed to you in everything you do, dear, and know there are countless people who support you around the world.

    Tony

  • Tony says:

    Jazz, you are the most courageous person I can think of. But the finest qualities you have – superb level-headedness, objectivity, and love of all people “of good will” – those have nothing to do with your gender identity. Those are qualities of the finest people on earth regardless of gender identity. Godspeed to you in everything you do, dear, and know there are countless people who support you around the world.

    Tony

  • Alexis says:

    I think nobody ssh we be made fun of its not fair you are you and and its bot your fault you are not in a girl body it was just nature taking its way i saw you on 20/20 it was amazing hopefully when you are older you can get a girl body because that’s just you your right you are unique and special:)!

  • Alexis says:

    I think nobody ssh we be made fun of its not fair you are you and and its bot your fault you are not in a girl body it was just nature taking its way i saw you on 20/20 it was amazing hopefully when you are older you can get a girl body because that’s just you your right you are unique and special:)!

  • Leslie says:

    I am astonished by the courage and decency of Jazz and her parents.

    Jazz is obviously extremely bright, well-spoken and beautiful, and has gone beyond her own situation to make things better for other transgender kids who don’t have her ability to make themselves understood.

    And what luck that she was born to the right parents. How many couples have the ability to listen to their nursery-school or kindergarten age child and take what they say seriously? How many to believe that something that has not been part of their world is real and life-changing? I suspect that disbelief and fear of what might be ahead for everyone in the family would preclude most parents from so much as considering their child’s issue.

    To fully trust their child and the feelings she expressed and to have the confidence to demonstrate that trust is the best thing they might experience. We are the beneficiaries of that spirit.

    If we were all more courageous and said what we meant maybe things would be better.

  • Leslie says:

    I am astonished by the courage and decency of Jazz and her parents.

    Jazz is obviously extremely bright, well-spoken and beautiful, and has gone beyond her own situation to make things better for other transgender kids who don’t have her ability to make themselves understood.

    And what luck that she was born to the right parents. How many couples have the ability to listen to their nursery-school or kindergarten age child and take what they say seriously? How many to believe that something that has not been part of their world is real and life-changing? I suspect that disbelief and fear of what might be ahead for everyone in the family would preclude most parents from so much as considering their child’s issue.

    To fully trust their child and the feelings she expressed and to have the confidence to demonstrate that trust is the best thing they might experience. We are the beneficiaries of that spirit.

    If we were all more courageous and said what we meant maybe things would be better.

  • Gabby says:

    Hi Jazz,
    I just wanted to congratulate you on winning the Collin Higgins Award and starting your foundation. I have been watching you on Youtube for a while now and I am so pleased that you are continuing tolead the life you have with such loving parents and siblings. I am a 50 year old trans woman living in Australia and it is also much better for us here than it was when I was younger. It is people like you and hopefully me too that are showing the rest of the world that we are not freaks or weirdos and that we’re just like other people and the more the world sees people like you and me they will realize they have nothing to fear from us. They will understand that we have the same hopes,needs, wants and goals and that we just want to live our lives the same as everyone else does. To lead happy and fulfilling lives. Keep it up Jazz, You Rock Little Girl 🙂 Gabby

  • Gabby says:

    Hi Jazz,
    I just wanted to congratulate you on winning the Collin Higgins Award and starting your foundation. I have been watching you on Youtube for a while now and I am so pleased that you are continuing tolead the life you have with such loving parents and siblings. I am a 50 year old trans woman living in Australia and it is also much better for us here than it was when I was younger. It is people like you and hopefully me too that are showing the rest of the world that we are not freaks or weirdos and that we’re just like other people and the more the world sees people like you and me they will realize they have nothing to fear from us. They will understand that we have the same hopes,needs, wants and goals and that we just want to live our lives the same as everyone else does. To lead happy and fulfilling lives. Keep it up Jazz, You Rock Little Girl 🙂 Gabby

  • Dylan says:

    Dear Jazz,

    If you ever read this I would like you to know congrats about getting the award .I am 11 just like you and I am also in middle school I have watched your I am jazz video and I was heart broken I kept saying to myself jazz I would be friends with you any day your very pretty and I don’t care which parts you have and I think its very cool you don’t care what people think about you. If I was your friend I would be all the friends you need at school I would take care of you and stop when people bully you I have never known a person as cool as you. Keep Strong Jazz!

  • Dylan says:

    Dear Jazz,

    If you ever read this I would like you to know congrats about getting the award .I am 11 just like you and I am also in middle school I have watched your I am jazz video and I was heart broken I kept saying to myself jazz I would be friends with you any day your very pretty and I don’t care which parts you have and I think its very cool you don’t care what people think about you. If I was your friend I would be all the friends you need at school I would take care of you and stop when people bully you I have never known a person as cool as you. Keep Strong Jazz!

  • Mary kate says:

    Hey I’am not unique like you but i believe that all transgendered should be treated how they should be treated and Jazz you are truly a hero for kid and you really opened up peoples eyes and touch their heart
    THE
    HERO
    JAZZ

  • Mary kate says:

    Hey I’am not unique like you but i believe that all transgendered should be treated how they should be treated and Jazz you are truly a hero for kid and you really opened up peoples eyes and touch their heart
    THE
    HERO
    JAZZ

  • Mary kate says:

    Oh ya and tell me when a episode of you is on

    Love ya jazz

  • Mary kate says:

    Oh ya and tell me when a episode of you is on

    Love ya jazz

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