Woman went to law school so she could help fight for her transgender daughter's rights
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Katie Jenifer decided someone had to fight for her transgender daughter and decided she was the person for the job.
At age 45, Jenifer decided to become a lawyer, so she could advocate for her daughter, the Washington Post reports in an Inspired Life column.
The problems began as early as first grade for Jenifer’s daughter, who didn’t want to dress as a boy beginning at age 4 and began wearing girls’ clothes at 6 years old. The girl wasn’t allowed to enroll in a girls’ tumbling class and got kicked off the girls’ softball team.
“We really needed a legal advocate in our corner,” Jenifer told the Washington Post. “Who better to fight for her than her own mom?”
Jenifer graduated from the North Carolina Central University School of Law in May 2020. While a student, she became a research assistant with a professor who taught a classed called “Sexual Identity and the Law” and got involved in LGBTQ organizations. She also started a clinic to help people change their legal names or gender markers.
Jenifer testified with her daughter, who now is 14, before state lawmakers in North Carolina in April. They opposed a bill that would ban transgender students from competing on sports teams that correspond with their gender identities. The bill has been set aside for now.
Jenifer still volunteers and is interviewing for jobs, hoping for work involving transgender issues and health care.
