Jackie Evancho, the 16-year-old “America’s Got Talent” star who performed the national anthem at Donald Trump’s inauguration, has spoken out against the president for his decision to rescind Obama Administration-era protections for transgender public school students.
Evancho has an older transgender sister, 18-year-old Juliet, who is currently suing her Pittsburgh school district for refusing to allow trans students to use identity-corresponding bathrooms.
I am obviously disappointed in the @POTUS decision to send the #transgender bathroom issue to the states to decide. #sisterlove
— jackie evancho (@jackieevancho) February 22, 2017
It was reported today by the New York Times that Trump intends to reverse the Obama Administration’s guidance that public schools nationwide should allow transgender students to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity.
Evancho decided to perform the national anthem at last month’s inauguration despite criticism from LGBT activists. She said she wanted to unite the country with her performance.
“I hope to just kind of make everyone forget about rivals and politics for a second and just think about America and the pretty song that I’m singing,” she said.
In an interview with CBS News prior to the inauguration, Juliet Evancho said she supported her sister’s decision to perform on Capitol Hill, but did not express her feelings about Trump.
“”The way I look at it is, Jackie is singing for our country, and it’s an honor for her to be singing in front of so many people,” she said. “So I feel like that’s really where I look at it. And that’s where I’m going to leave it right now.”