June 10, 2021
Classroom Couture: 'The Clothes Have No Gender' Movement Gains Steam
READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Earlier this week, EDGE reported how Spanish student Miguel Gomez was reportedly expelled and made to see a psychologist for wearing a skirt. To show their support, a number of male teachers have posted images of themselves wearing dresses as shown on the Instagram account #LaRopaNoTieneGenero ("The Clothes Have No Gender"), which has garnered nearly 12,000 posts thus far.
"The Clothes Have No Gender (#LaRopaNoTieneGenero) movement was launched by Maths teacher Jose Piñas in November after one of his students was expelled and forced to visit a psychologist after wearing a skirt to school," the Daily Mail reported. Then other male teachers joined in.
The drive gathered pace again last month when Manuel Ortega, 37, and Borja Velázquez, 36, of Virgen de Sacedón primary school in Valladolid ditched their trousers for skirts," the article notes.
Piñas said the movement is just "the tip of the iceberg," adding that real change begins with the entire school system.
In the caption of "a picture of him wearing a skirt in front of a chalk board," Piñas wrote: "20 years ago I suffered persecution and insults for my sexual orientation in the institute where I am now a teacher. Many teachers, they looked the other way. I want to join the cause of the student, Mikel, who has been expelled and sent to the psychologist for going to class with a skirt."
Check out these teachers who have posted pics of themselves to show their solidarity with Gomez:
This story is part of our special report: "Pride 2021". Want to read more? Here's the full list.
