Jackie Evancho: I want Trump to know about the horrors of trans discrimination
Teenage reality star Jackie Evancho has spoken out about Trump’s reversal of trans rights.
The 16-year-old star previously flouted a celebrity boycott to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration.
President Trump has now said she is “welcome” to a meeting with the President after she complained that he targeted her trans sister’s rights.
She told Tribune Live: “I don’t know what I’ll say exactly,” said Evancho.
“But I do know that my goal is going to be to take the ‘state issue’ now and make it federal, so that there can be a law or something passed to protect my sister and people like her.”
“Just because I disagree with the president doesn’t mean that I despise him,” Jackie Evancho said.
“I’m American and have the right to disagree with my president.”
America’s Got Talent singer Evancho was one of the only stars to perform at the Trump inauguration last month.
The singer’s decision to perform baffled many as she has a transgender sister, Juliet Evancho – whose rights were expected to be harmed under Trump administration plans.
Trump officially rolled back protections for transgender children like Juliet in schools, issuing an order to reverse discrimination protections put in place by Barack Obama.
The teenager said: “I want to make him aware of the horrors that my sister deals with in terms of discrimination,” she said.
“She’s had some really terrible things like trash thrown at her, name-calling, things thrown at her head.”
Jackie Evancho tweeted following the announcement: “I am obviously disappointed in the @POTUS decision to send the #transgender bathroom issue to the states to decide. #sisterlove
“@realDonaldTrump u gave me the honor 2 sing at your inauguration. Pls give me & my sis the honor 2 meet with u 2 talk #transgender rights”.
President Trump has since responded to say that he would “welcome” Jackie and her sister Juliet to a meeting to discuss trans rights.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said during the daily press briefing: “Yeah, I think the president would be welcome to meet with her.”
Juliet Evancho is currently embroiled in a legal battle with her school over her right to use the female bathroom – and will now likely face opposition from Trump’s Attorney General if the case reaches federal court.
Jackie previously said she could “100 percent” support her sister’s fight for legal rights and sing for Trump at the same time.
She said: “For me it’s not political It’s just accepting people for who they are… I just kind of thought that this [performance] is for my country, so if people are going to hate on me it’s for the wrong reason.”
The girls’ dad Mike Evancho said: “We’re fighting this discrimination at the high school… it doesn’t matter who’s going into office, we would still fight that fight.”
