Juliet Evancho says reversal of Pine-Richland SD's bathroom policy has led to harassment, bullying

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — Juliet Evancho, the sister of singer Jackie Evancho, told Channel News anchor Peggy Finnegan on Thursday that the Pine-Richland School District’s decision to reverse its bathroom policy has made her a target at school.

"This is my senior year. I should be worried about what college I'm going to, not what bathroom I should be using,” Juliet said.

Earlier

to no longer allow students to use restrooms based on their expressed gender identity.

"I think they feel empowered now that they have this invitation from the policy,” Juliet said.

Juliet said her younger sister, Jackie, has also been targeted.

"There's a boy in her class who is harassing her about my issue,” she said.

The school district released a statement to Channel 11 News, saying: "The district strives to ensure a safe and positive learning environment for all students ... evidence of bullying, threats and/or harassment are not tolerated and would result in disciplinary consequences."

Juliet said school officials aren’t doing enough.

"I'm a teenager. I have teenage problems that any normal teenage girl would have, and now I have these issues with the school,” she said.

Lisa Evancho, Juliet and Jackie’s mother, said she wants to know how the school is going to ensure the safety of her daughters.

"One of their biggest concerns was, 'What are you going to do to ensure the safety of my daughters when a transgender female is using the restroom?' And now, I'd like to know what the school district is going to do to ensure the safety of my transgender daughter when she has to walk into the men's room,” she said.

Juliet said that while she is a senior this year, she plans to continue to fight the issue to help future transgender students.

"This isn't my fight. This is the fight for everyone who comes after me,” Juliet said.

Cox Media Group