[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 2, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H340-H341]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING JAZZ AND FRIENDS NATIONAL 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, today for the Jazz and Friends National Day 
of School and Community Readings hosted by HRC's Welcoming Schools 
program, I am going to read from the book ``Calvin'' written by JR and 
Vanessa Ford and illustrated by Kayla Harren of Minnesota.
  It is critically important to make sure that transgender and 
nonbinary youth not only feel supported but valued and affirmed for who 
they are.
  I am reading from the book ``Calvin.''


[[Page H341]]


  

       For as long as I could remember, I knew I was a boy.
       I'd draw myself with short hair and a shirt like Papa's. 
     I'd dream about swim trunks like my dad and brother wore.
       I didn't tell my family until the night before our summer 
     trip to Gigi and Papa's. I was scared they wouldn't believe 
     me. But I knew it was time to be me.
       Whenever I have to do something scary, my dad always says: 
     ``Take deep breaths and count down from five.''
       Breathe in. Breathe out. Five, four, three, two, one.
       ``I'm not a girl,'' I told my family.
       ``I'm a boy--a boy in my heart and in my brain.''
       ``We love you if you are a girl, boy, neither, or both. We 
     love you whoever you are,'' my dad said.
       Later, Dad told me the word for how I felt was transgender. 
     Being transgender means other people think you are one 
     gender, but inside, you know you are a different one.
       I wondered how Gigi and Papa would react. As we got closer, 
     I squeezed my stuffed lion to my chest. I had already told my 
     family who I was. Now I needed to tell them my name.
       ``The same name as your favorite stuffed lion?'' Dad asked.
       ``It's why I named him that. It's always been my name to 
     me.''
       When we got to Gigi and Papa's, Dad told them my new name. 
     He introduced me.
       Our summer trip turned out to be the best ever. At the 
     comic convention, Papa bought me my favorite costume. My 
     favorite superhero signed my poster, using my real name.
       At Water World, Gigi bought me and my brother matching swim 
     trunks. Even the water slides felt better in them.
       In line for popcorn, I made a new friend. I felt proud to 
     tell him my name. We spent the whole day together.
       On the last day of vacation, at the big outlet stores near 
     Gigi and Papa's, I picked out new clothes. That night I gave 
     my family a fashion show.
       ``You look so handsome,'' Gigi told me.
       School was starting soon, and I knew there was only one 
     more thing I needed to feel like me.
       When I looked in the mirror, I finally saw me.
       Dad said there were other transgender people in the world, 
     but I didn't know any kids like me at my school--and my 
     school started next week.
       Being the only one felt scary.
       How would everyone treat me?
       What if my friends wouldn't call me ``he''?
       What if, what if, what if?
       The first day of school, I dragged my feet to the door. 
     Breathe in. Breathe out. Five, four, three, two, one.
       ``Welcome back to school! We're glad you are here!''
       When the principal said my name, I felt safe and happy.
       Violet skipped up to me, calling out my new name, too.
       ``You know my name?'' I asked.
       ``Yup! Your dad told my mom you are a boy now.''
       ``I have always been a boy inside. Are we still friends?''
       ``Yes! Did you bring your jump rope for recess?''
       When I stepped inside my classroom, I couldn't believe what 
     I saw. The cubby, the lunch chart, the homework station, and 
     the mailboxes, the name tag on the table, my new name was 
     everywhere, everywhere it should be.
       I felt my fears start to go away.
       ``Welcome back, class! For morning meeting, we'll all share 
     about our summers.''
       I knew just what I would say when it was my turn.
       I stood up proudly to share my summer story. But first, I 
     introduced myself. ``Hi,'' I said. ``My name is Calvin, C-a-
     l-v-i-n.
       And I felt my what-ifs melt away.

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