[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 36 (Thursday, February 25, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          JAZZ & FRIENDS DAY OF SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY READINGS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Minnesota (Ms. Craig) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to participate in the HRC 
Foundation Welcoming Schools Jazz and Friends Day of School and 
Community Readings.
  Each year, this day is meant to inspire caring community members to 
join together to affirm the rights of trans and non-binary youth and 
show support for LGBTQ children and youth to have safe, affirming, and 
welcoming schools and communities.
  To take part in this year's readings, I am proud to stand on the 
floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to read from ``When Aidan 
Became a Brother,'' by author Kyle Lukoff:

       When Aidan was born, everyone thought he was a girl. His 
     parents gave him a pretty name. His room looked like a girl's 
     room. And he wore clothes that other girls liked wearing.
       But as Aidan got bigger, he hated the sound of his name. He 
     felt like his room belonged to someone else. And he always 
     ripped or stained his clothes accidentally-on-purpose.
       Everyone thought he was just a different kind of girl.
       Some girls had rooms full of science experiments and bug 
     collections.
       Lots of girls didn't wear dresses.
       But Aidan didn't feel like any kind of girl. He was really 
     another kind of boy.
       It was hard to tell his parents what he knew about himself, 
     but it was even harder not to.
       It took everyone some time to adjust, and they learned a 
     lot from other families with transgender kids like him.
       Aidan explored different ways of being a boy. He tried out 
     lots of names until one stuck. They changed his bedroom into 
     a place where he belonged. He also took much better care of 
     his new clothes.
       Then one day, Mom and Dad had something to tell him.
       ``I'm going to have a baby,'' Mom announced.
       ``A baby,'' Aidan said? ``Does that mean I get to be the 
     big brother?''
       ``Of course,'' said Dad, ruffling his hair.
       Aidan thought that being a big brother was an important job 
     for a boy like him. He wanted to make sure this baby would 
     feel understood right away.
       The baby needed clothes, so Aidan and his mom went 
     shopping. There were so many choices! Would the baby like 
     seahorses or penguins better?
       ``Are you having a boy or girl?'' asked a lady.
       Aidan didn't like it when people asked if he was a boy or a 
     girl, and he hoped the baby couldn't hear yet. He was glad 
     when Mom just smiled and said, ``I'm having a baby.''
       The baby's room needed to be painted, so Aidan and his dad 
     went to the hardware store. Dad chose a gallon of sky-blue 
     paint, and Aidan added a puffy-cloud white.
       ``Are you excited for your new brother or sister?'' asked 
     the paint guy?
       ``I'm excited to be a big brother,'' Aidan said.
       The paint guy looked confused. Aidan could tell that he 
     wanted to ask a different question, and he was glad to have 
     his dad there.
       The big rollers were fun to paint with. ``This room feels 
     just like being outside,'' Aidan exclaimed. He had always 
     felt trapped in his bedroom before they fixed it, but his new 
     sibling wouldn't have to feel that way.
       ``You're right,'' said Dad. ``Let's make some shapes in the 
     clouds.''
       Every baby needs a name. Aidan loved getting to choose his 
     own, but he remembered that it had been hard for his parents 
     to let go of the name they gave him. He looked for names that 
     could fit this new person no matter who they grew up to be.
       Babies needed someone to read to them, so Aidan practiced 
     and practiced and practiced.
       Dad wanted to teach Aidan how to change diapers. ``Um, 
     maybe later,'' said Aidan. He decided that picking flowers 
     for his mom was more important.
       Two weeks before the baby's due date, Aidan started to 
     worry. Maybe he should have picked different clothes. The 
     blue walls might be too bright. He wished he could ask the 
     baby which name they liked best.
       Mom came to tuck him in. ``Are you feeling okay, sweetie?'' 
     she asked.
       Aidan put his hands over where he thought the baby's ears 
     would be. ``Do you think the baby will be happy with 
     everything?'' he whispered. ``I don't want them to feel like 
     I did when I was little, but what if I get everything wrong? 
     What if I don't how to be a good big brother?''
       Mom hugged him tight. ``When you were born, we didn't know 
     you were going to be our son. We made some mistakes, but you 
     helped us fix them. And you taught us how important it is to 
     love someone for exactly who they are. This baby is so lucky 
     to have you, and so are we.''
       The next morning, Aidan found the boxes of his old baby 
     pictures. He looked so different back then! It hadn't been 
     easy, but he liked the boy he was growing into.
       Maybe everything wouldn't be perfect for this baby. Maybe 
     he would have to fix mistakes he didn't even know he was 
     making. And maybe that was okay.
       Aidan knew how to love someone, and that was the most 
     important part of being a brother.

                          ____________________