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| image grabbed from Facebook |
It all started when 17-year old transgender Maria Muniz (born Mario Muniz) was criticized and fined by the O Colégio Pedro II faculty for wearing a skirt to school. As part of the school's code of ethics, students are required to wear uniforms that are appropriate for their gender: girls should wear skirts while boys should wear trousers.
What happened next is both amazing and inspiring.
Maria's classmates rose to the occasion and decided to protest by coming to school wearing skirts. Boys and girls alike. They then took pictures of themselves and posted them on social media sites like Facebook.
Post by Os Cariocas.
The school, taken by surprise, decided to let Maria wear skirts and has started deliberating about what changes need to be made to the student code of ethics. "The sexual orientation is not important for us, all our students are equal," the school's principal said. "However, the uniform determines male and female clothing, but we will study a new manual of coexistence."
Maria was full of joy for the support given to her by her peers. "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."
This act of support and solidarity gained support from the Twitter community.
Well done to the students of Colegio Pedrosa II for standing up for your fellow TG student You people rock! #VouDeSaia
— tifanii dalvero (@tifaniidalvero) September 21, 2014
#VoudeSaia This makes me know that hope for the future for people like me still exists.
— Jacy Coop (@JacyCoop) September 21, 2014
It's so sweet to see the sign of solidarity with the girl at #VouDeSaia <3 Small protest *can* create big change!
— no0n3 (@no0n3) September 21, 2014
Most current news is depressing, but stories like this one restore my faith in humanity. #VouDeSaia #LGBT http://t.co/19jThw1NbO
— M. Elaine (@ylaenna) September 21, 2014
What a heart warming story. Sending my support from Ireland #VoudeSaia
— Eric Murphy (@derkamonster) September 20, 2014
If there's anything to be learned from this wondrous act of valiance, it's that nothing is too small if we want to effect huge changes in the world. Even students, who are typically labelled as "powerless" and "juvenile" have the power the send us so called adults a gut wrenching wake up call once in a while.
so cool i wish i have classmate like that
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