A group of boys at a Brazil school have donned skirts, after a transgender girl was fined by teachers for wearing the “incorrect” uniform.
17-year-old Maria Muniz, who recently came out as trans at São Cristóvão do Colégio Pedro II, was disciplined by teachers and handed a fine after she wore a skirt to school, instead of the regulation boys’ trousers.
The school claimed that their Code of Ethics did not permit “male” students to wear female uniforms – but was forced to backtrack on the decision when the girl’s classmates decided to protest by all wearing skirts to school too.
Maria Muniz said: “I always turned up in trousers but I felt repressed and for me wearing a skirt was about expressing my freedom over who I am inside and not how society sees me.
“I am really happy about the way my classmates supported me and I hope it serves as an example to others to feel encouraged to do the right thing.
“I was always taught at school to accept who you are, I am only trying to live that.”
The school said in a statement that it would change the rules to allow for greater gender expression, saying: “The current Student Code of Ethics will be overhauled with the participation of the whole community, including the active participation of students, who may suggest changes they deem necessary.”
by Nick Duffy
Source – PinkNews
