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Doll based on transgender teen to debut at NY Toy Fair

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jazz Jennings, the teenage transgender subject of the TLC documentary series “I am Jazz.” A New York doll maker said it will start selling what it believes is the first transgender doll on the market. The doll is based on Jennings and will make its debut at the New York Toy Fair and be available on the Tonner Doll Co.’s website and in specialty stores in July.

WASHINGTON >> A New York doll maker says it will be selling what it believes is the first transgender doll on the market.

The doll is based on Jazz Jennings, the teenage transgender subject of the TLC documentary series “I am Jazz.” It will make its debut at the New York Toy Fair next week and be available on the Tonner Doll Co.’s web site and in specialty stores in July.

A spokesman for the company said the 18-inch doll, which has a “genderless” plastic mold typical of most dolls, is being tested for kids aged 8 years and older and is expected to retail for $89.99.

In comparison, the popular mass-market “American Girl” 18-inch dolls, which come with a book, sell for $115 on AmericanGirl.com.

Tonner Doll, which is based in Kingston, New York, said Friday that the “Jazz” doll is being launched as a test for the specialty-retail market and will be sold by 25 to 50 stores. If it’s a hit, the company hopes to take it to the mass market.

The doll was designed and sculpted by company founder Robert Tonner. His company has made dolls based on a variety of TV, film and book characters including Spiderman, Harry Potter, Dr. Who and Wonder Woman.

“Jazz stands for everything I respect from a human nature point of view — she’s incredibly brave, intelligent, warm-hearted and creative,” Tonner said.

Jennings appeared at age 6 on a Barbara Walters “20/20” special in 2007. She has identified as a female since she could talk, her parents told ABC News.

She is the youngest person ever to be recognized in The Advocate Magazine’s Top Forty Under 40 annual list and was named as one of Time Magazine’s Most Influential Teens for 2014 and 2015.

In 2014, Jennings co-wrote a children’s picture book titled “I Am Jazz” and her memoir, “Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen,” was released last summer.

The Jazz Jennings doll comes 40 years after the release of the Gay Bob doll, widely thought to be the first doll based on a gay character.

4 responses to “Doll based on transgender teen to debut at NY Toy Fair”

  1. Ken_Conklin says:

    “… the first transgender doll on the market … the 18-inch doll, which has a “genderless” plastic mold typical of most dolls, is being tested for kids aged 8 years and older ”

    Huh? Say what? If it has the typical genderless appearance of plastic dolls, and is not “anatomically correct”, then how can anyone, child or adult, tell that the doll is transgender?

    I suggest that the doll should be marketed as a prostitute — “I can be whatever you want me to be.”

  2. awahana says:

    Perfect. All I need now is to have a Caitlin Jenner doll to complete my gay bob doll collection. They can sleep together in my barbie doll house.

  3. justmyview371 says:

    The indoctrination of the masses continues. Before long there will be no more straight people!

  4. Koa12 says:

    Out of control identity politics. Next up, gender neutral toys in all pre- k classes so snowflakes mired in PC theology can have their safe space.

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