Politics & Government

Jackie Evancho, who sang at Trump's inauguration, wants meeting on transgender rights

By John Wagner

The Washington Post

February 22, 2017 09:12 PM

Singer Jackie Evancho arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, for the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump. Saul Loeb AP

Teenage classical singer Jackie Evancho, one of the first performers to be enlisted for President Donald Trump's inaugural festivities, took to Twitter Wednesday night to express her dismay with the administration's revocation of federal protections for transgender students and to request a meeting with the president.

At the daily White House press briefing, press secretary Sean Spicer answered a question regarding the conflicts in the White House over a change to policy regarding transgender bathrooms in schools and other government buildings. (courtesy: White

By McClatchy

In a pair of tweets, Evancho, who has a transgender sister, said she was "obviously disappointed" with the decision "to send the (hash)transgender bathroom issue to the states to decide."

"U gave me the honor 2 sing at your inauguration," Evancho wrote in a second tweet to her more than 82,000 followers. "Pls give me & my sis the honor 2 meet with you 2 talk (hash)transgender rights."

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Earlier Wednesday, Trump's Education and Justice departments notified the U.S. Supreme Court that the administration is ordering the nation's public schools to disregard memos the Obama administration issued during the past two years regarding transgender student rights.

Those memos said that prohibiting transgender students from using restrooms that align with their gender identity violates federal anti-discrimination laws. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said earlier Wednesday that Trump believed the issue was best left to individual states.

The White House did not immediately respond Wednesday night to questions about whether Trump plans to reply to Evancho, who performed the national anthem following Trump's swearing in last month.

Evancho, whose career got a boost in 2010 from being the runner-up on "America's Got Talent," was among the first performers announced by Trump's inaugural committee at a time when it was struggling to attract A-list talent.

Shortly after her selection was announced, Trump said on Twitter that Evancho's album sales had "skyrocketed" as a result. "Some people just don't understand the 'Movement,'" he wrote.

Transgender residents in North Carolina talk about their experiences and the impact of the state's House Bill 2, the so-called bathroom bill, on their lives.

By Elena Boffetta