Jazz Jennings' mom breaks down in tears as she recalls how her transgender daughter was made fun of

Jazz Jennings' mother is opening up about how she had to advocate for her transgender daughter from an early age, saying she was 'always putting out fires' to protect her. 

On Tuesday's episode of the family's TLC reality series, I Am Jazz, Jeanette Jennings, 56, reflects on the challenges Jazz, 22, faced when she was in preschool in Florida, where she was born and raised. 

The trans activist, who was assigned male at birth, started verbalizing that she was a girl as soon as she could speak. After being diagnosed with gender dysphoria, she transitioned to female when she was in kindergarten. 

'With Jazz, when she was little or, you know, a minor, I was always putting out fires before she got burned. I walked her into preschool, everybody was whispering and pointing fingers and just looking down upon us,' Jeanette explains in a preview clip shared by People. 

Jazz Jennings' mother, Jeanette, opens up about how she had to advocate for her transgender daughter on this week's episode of the TLC reality series I Am Jazz 

Jazz, who was assigned male at birth, transitioned to female when she was in kindergarten after being diagnosed with gender dysphoria

Jeannette recalled how people would point at her and her daughter when she was in preschool, saying she was 'always putting out fires' to protect Jazz (pictured as a child)

'I held my hand high and held my child's hand and I said, "We're going to go in there and don't care what the other kids think and it doesn't matter what the parents think. You're special. You're unique. You're you and I'm so proud of you and I'm so proud to be your mom," and I'm saying this to a four-year-old.'

Jeanette notes that Jazz was having a difficult time at school because of who she was and needed encouragement. 

'I had to say this to her because she was upset that the other kids were making fun of her for acting girly, and I had to tell her, "It's OK, you be you. You do you and we're here for you. We love you no matter what,"' she recalls. 

The episode features footage of Jeanette speaking on behalf of transgender children like Jazz at a TransAction | Equality Florida rally. 

'There's going to be a board meeting today to decide whether gender-affirming care will be allowed in the state of Florida,' she explains. 'And they need someone to speak on behalf of the kids and support hormone blockers and I'm that person.'

Jazz started taking hormone blockers when she was 11 years old, and she has been candid about how they were 'life-saving.'

'We were told by medical professionals that 40 to 50 per cent of kids like Jazz would attempt suicide without their gender-affirming care,' Jeanette explains in her speech. 

'Jazz herself has told us if she was forced to go through male puberty, she would have taken her life. As a young child, she would have nightmares about having facial hair.

Jeanette says she always encouraged Jazz (pictured with her father and brothers) to be herself, insisting that she was 'special' and 'unique' 

Jazz, who is now a student at Harvard University, remains incredibly close to her mother 

The new episode also features footage of Jeanette speaking on behalf of other transgender children at a TransAction | Equality Florida rally

Jazz notes in her testimonial that her mother is a 'major' advocate in the trans community, saying, 'I would not be the person I am today if it weren't for my mom'

'After extensive guidance from medical professionals, we promised we'd do everything in our power to ensure that Jazz would be able to live as a girl,' she tearfully adds. 'And she's fulfilling her dreams of changing the world on her own terms, as a student at Harvard University. I love you, baby.' 

Greg Jennings, praised his wife, Jeanette, in his testimonial while sharing his unwavering support for her and their daughter. 

'Jeanette is a big advocate, and, you know, we're proud of her for doing that,' he says. 'I can't always be where she is, but I'm there in spirit. I think that's true for the whole family. Whenever any one of us are, whether we're together or one of us is there, we're all on the same page fighting for the same cause.'  

Last fall, despite protests from the trans community, Florida banned gender-affirming care for trans youth, including puberty blockers and hormone therapies to treat gender dysphoria. 

Jazz also opens up about her bond with her mother during the emotional episode. 

'I would not be the person I am today if it weren't for my mom,' she insists. 'She spreads so much unconditional love to everyone, and it's not just her family — like, she is an advocate, a major force for the community. 

'I am beyond blessed to have my mom, and I'm just so, so proud of her.'