Genitals as Wounds: TLC’s Irresponsibile Celebration of Transgender Children

Last updated on: July 8, 2015 at 9:57 am by Nancy French

Genitals as Wounds: TLC’s Irresponsibile Celebration of Transgender Children 2015-07-08T09:57:02-05:00 Nancy French

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

View image | gettyimages.com

Did you see what reality TV is headed your way?

Jazz Jennings, the Florida teenager who has become the unofficial face of America’s transgender youth, will now star in her own reality TV series on TLC, focusing on her life with family, friends and school.

The 14-year-old, who was last year named one of TIME magazines 25 most-influential teenagers -alongside Taliban victim and Nobel Peace Prize-winner Malala Yousafzai – and has written a children’s book about growing up transgender, will appear in an 11-episode series called All That Jazz.

‘Jazz may be known as an author and activist, but she’s first and foremost a teenage girl with a big, brave heart, living a remarkable life,’ Nancy Daniels, the general manager of TLC, told People.

Now in the ninth grade, Jazz plans to undergo sex realignment surgery at 18, having been born male but lived as a female since she was five-years-old.

In National Review, my husband David pointed to this horrible story from the New York Times describing “Kat,” a young man desperately trying to be a woman:

It was too late to change some things, like Kat’s tenor voice and facial hair. “I hate my voice,” she said. “I shave.” She chose not to save sperm — to her, a revolting reminder of masculinity — so she cannot have children, the one sacrifice that gave her father a pang.

The operation involved deconstructing her male genitals and repurposing the nerves and skin as female anatomy. When it was over, Kat developed aspiration pneumonia and had vomiting and dry heaves for days, normal reactions to anesthesia, narcotics and antibiotics, but Dr. McGinn said Kat was hit harder than most.

Before the surgery, she had been impish and playful. Now she buried her nose in her Nintendo 3DS and cracked a rare smile at an old text message consisting entirely of “Meow,” “Meow.”

Her father felt helpless as she refused food and lost about 20 pounds. Dr. McGinn said it was not unusual for patients to become depressed after surgery and compared this to postpartum depression.

Kat was anxious about having enough privacy in college, since her new vagina needs constant care or it will close off like a wound. “The only thing I’m thinking about now is the room situation,” she said.

David writes:

This is the future that our new culture is proclaiming for troubled kids — a future of genitals that are like “wounds” and suicide rates that skyrocket beyond all reason, more than nineteen times that of the general population. After being put forward to the world as a transgender child celebrity, how free will Jazz Jennings be to pull back from the brink? In a world of red carpets, fame, and acclaim, who will tell Jazz the truth?

Read more on the Patheos Faith and Family Channel, follow Nancy on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Previous Post

July 8, 2015

Government Tells Christian Bakers They Can't Speak Out about Same Sex Marriage

Next Post

July 13, 2015 Sixth Graders Get Birth Control and Teens Gets IUDs Without Parents' Knowledge

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Christmas faith family ministry music Television Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 March 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz