Oprah praised by LGBTQ advocacy group for promoting Jazz Jennings, sex changes for 'trans kids'

Oprah Winfrey was awarded the 2024 Vanguard Award at the 35th annual GLAAD Media Awards last week, and in her acceptance speech she praised her network OWN for having brought the documentary I Am Jazz: A Family in Transition to the small screen.

"When own launched in 2011," Winfrey told her adoring crowd, "we were able to bring powerful documentaries such as Becoming Chaz and I Am Jazz to the screen, along with conversations with activists like Janet Mock— Janet, charting new ground." Jennings was gender transitioned in the public eye starting at age 7. Becoming Chaz tracked the sex change of Cher's son Chastity, now Chaz, Bono who underwent a double mastectomy in the documentary. Mock is trans and advocates for LGBTQ allyship.

Winfrey also pointed out that Elliott Page, formerly actress Ellen page, "entrusted me to share his joy of being liberated in his transition, which helped open up the understanding of the challenges the fears and pressures facing our trans youth today."

"I am proud to support and produce projects centering on the LGBTQ storylines through Harpo, through OWN and I will continue to hire queer and trans filmmakers to bring authentic characters to the screen," Winfrey said.

Jennings was gender transitioned beginning at the age of 5. Born in 2000, Jennings has been in the spotlight since very early in life and was only 7 when Jennings was featured on a 20/20 interview with Barbara Walters. The child was lauded for being brave and outspoken, and Jennings' parents were praised for being so affirming of their "trans kid."

After the interview with Walters, Jennings was officially in the spotlight. In 2011, Winfrey's network aired the documentary, which led to a children's book called I Am Jazz in 2014, a GLAAD Media Award appearance, being named on of "The Top 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014" by Time Magazine, recognition by major LGBTQ publications, named a Human Right Campaign Youth Ambassador. Jennings didn't just grow up in the spotlight, but has been sex changed under the harsh glare of media attention.

By 2015, Jennings was starring in a reality show on TLC that has gone to 8 seasons. On the show, Jennings has taken cross-sex hormones and undergone castration. In one episode, Jennings' father said Jazz couldn't get a tattoo because it was too permanent but apparently happily went along with castration and the creation of a neo-vagina that has caused Jennings' excessive complications.

Jennings' dating life has been on display, as well as their struggles with weight gain and attempts to attain adulthood and independence. Jennings has been a voice actor for trans characters, featured at Pride events, and in season 8 of I Am Jazz struggled publicly with sexual orientation. 

Dr. Marci Bowers, a trans doctor who heads defamed trans health organization WPATH, performed Jennings' sex change surgery. Multiple procedures were necessary because Jennings, having been transitioned so young, did not have enough genital material to construct an opening that appeared as that of the opposite sex.

Bowers has said that no patient Bowers has had who has gone on puberty blockers, into cross-sex hormones, and on to sex change has ever been able to experience an orgasm. This includes Jennings, who in one episode admitted to having no idea what physical sexual feelings of arousal felt like, not to mention an orgasm.

But for Winfrey, launching the career of a child who would go on to be butchered in the public eye is reason for applause.