Singer's Sister Weighs In On Pine-Richland School's Transgender Bathroom Debate
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Jackie Evancho's sister is speaking out about the transgender bathroom debate in the Pine-Richland School District.
"I'm a human being, and I'm a girl," said Juliet Evancho, a 17-year-old transgender student. "I was born a girl. I was just born with the wrong plumbing."
An informational meeting was held Thursday night on its practices for transgender students.
The Pine-Richland School District has had a practice in place that allows students who are transgender to use the bathroom they identify with, rather than the gender on their birth certificate.
But in recent meetings, the audience has been divided on whether the current practice is the right move.
One man asked the board: "I don't understand why this big debate is going on, and why the special needs of a few have to be imposed on the privacy of many?"
Several students at the same meeting, however, stood up to say the transgender issue has been overblown.
One of them said: "Transgender students are no different than any other child. They simply want an education."
Juliet Evancho is puzzled and upset over the debate.
"I'm not this monster who's there to hurt their children," said Evancho. "I'm there to learn and use the bathroom if need be."
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Evancho is the older sister of singer Jackie Evancho.
Juliet Evancho says it takes a great deal of bravery for young people who are transgender and worries any change to the bathroom practice will make it even more difficult.
"I don't understand what's so wrong with me using that bathroom, using my preferred bathroom." said Evancho. "Because there have been transgender students in Pine-Richland for two-and-a-half years and now it's an issue? I just don't get it at all."
A lawyer representing some of the students who are transgender says if the district reverses its practice, this issue could wind up in court.