Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE YOUNG SINGER who sang the US national anthem at Donald Trump’s inauguration has spoken out about his reversal of Obama’s transgender school policy.
This week, the Trump administration ended federal protection for transgender students that allowed them to use public school bathrooms and locker rooms matching their gender identities.
The Justice and Education departments said in a letter that the Obama-era guidance caused a spike in lawsuits over how the guidance should be applied.
It’s now up to states and school districts to interpret federal law and determine whether students should have access to restrooms in accordance with their expressed gender identity.
The situation has caused massive upset in the US, with prominent personalities speaking out about the move.
Among those to criticise the move was young singer Jackie Evancho, whose sister Juliet is transgender.
Speaking to ABC, Jackie Evancho said she wants to “enlighten” Trump on the discrimination people like her sister face in school.
Her sister Juliet said she lives discrimination every day, and has had things thrown at her in school.
“The unsafe environment is just very unhealthy,” she said. “Donald Trump needs to know that being in such an unsafe environment won’t do any good for not only the transgenders and the LGBT community, but as well as everyone as a whole.”
Jackie asked Trump, via Twitter, to meet her and her sister to discuss the issue:
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say