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Looking past the daily story leads to moving narrative on journey from prejudice to acceptance

Dusty Farr talks with his transgender daughter in a park near Smithville, Mo., Feb. 25, 2024. Farr is suing the Platt County School District after his daughter was suspended for using the girl’s bathroom at the Missouri high school she attended. AP PHOTO / CHARLIE RIEDEL

HM April 19

Kansas City reporter Heather Hollingsworth’s look beyond the daily news yielded a raw, unfiltered story about a father who changed his worldview out of love for his transgender daughter.

Inspired by a lawsuit over transgender bathroom bans in a Missouri school district, Hollingsworth thought the student involved might have a compelling story. She discovered a more impactful narrative about the student’s father, a self-proclaimed former bigot who became a champion for his daughter.

Hollingsworth drew readers into the father’s personal journey from prejudice to acceptance. Kansas City video journalist Nick Ingram and photographer Charlie Riedel enhanced the story with emotional video quotes and sensitive photos.

The story humanized the debate over bathroom bans and resonated widely. It also was featured in Flipboard’s “10 for Today.”

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