Kelly Clarkson invited trans teen Harleigh back onto the show. (Kevin Mazur/Getty/Instagram:harleighawalker)
Singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson recently welcomed trans teen Harleigh Walker back to her show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, during a segment dedicated to Trans Awareness Week. This appearance comes two years after Harleigh first featured on the show.
Return to the Show
Harleigh, now 18 and a freshman at the University of Maryland, first appeared on the show in 2023 with her father, Jeff, where they discussed important issues surrounding the transgender community with actress Laverne Cox.
Jeff highlighted the critical role of organizations like PFLAG in advocating for LGBTQ+ youth and their families. In a previous segment marking Trans Awareness Week, Clarkson had spoken with Jenna Tea, a trans woman from Utah.
In the current episode, Clarkson asked Harleigh what message she wanted to convey to viewers. Harleigh stated, “I really want to share that often trans people are vilified and demonized by politicians and the media generally. We’re people.” She also shared insights about her college experience and social life.
Message of Empowerment
Harleigh emphasized, “I am trans, but that’s not all my life is. But that also doesn’t mean I’m not proud to be trans.” She expressed a desire for others to recognize her as “a thriving young woman,” amid ongoing challenges faced by the transgender community.
Despite Harleigh’s optimistic message, the situation for trans individuals in the U.S. remains precarious. The past few years have seen significant changes, including the termination of government-backed diversity, equity, and inclusion programs during the Trump administration.
Subsequent actions by government agencies included layoffs in DEI roles and removal of LGBTQ+ related content from official resources. For example, the FBI reportedly painted over a wall listing ‘diversity’ as a core value, and references to trans individuals were reportedly removed from the Stonewall National Monument webpage.
Furthermore, reports indicate that the Department of Homeland Security has omitted the ‘T’ from LGBTQ+ in community threat assessments during events like Pride Month.
