Rio de Janeiro student Maria Muniz was fined by her school Colégio Pedro II for wearing a skirt. Because Muniz is transgender, the school did not recognise her as female, fined her and told her to only wear trousers in future.

Nine days after the incident, Muniz’ classmates demonstrated their support for her by all wearing skirts to school regardless of gender. They posted images of the protest to social media, where it was quickly shared through the hastag #VouDeSaia.

Muniz told Orange News she was pleased by her classmates’ demonstration.

“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.”

In response, the principal of Colégio Pedro II made a statement saying that the school was considering relaxing the dress code.

“The sexual orientation is not important for us, all our students are equal. However, the uniform determines male and female clothing, but we will study a new manual of coexistence”, he said.

Sophie Joske

Image: Twitter: #VoudeSaia