Male Teachers Across Spain Wear Skirts to Support Bullied Student

After Mikel Gómez was punished for wearing a skirt in October of last year, people across Spain have joined the Clothes Have No Gender Movement. To show their support for Mikel and the movement, teachers across the country are wearing skirts to school.

In a video posted to TikTok in 2020, Mikel explained how teachers removed him from class for wearing a skirt. Although he meant to advocate for women’s liberation and challenge gender norms, teachers misinterpreted his actions. Mikel said he was sent to a psychologist who asked him if he was transgender and identified as a woman. Once he explained he identified as a male, they told him to wear pants and his parents later punished him for his clothes.

This video sparked protests across the country with hundreds of male students wearing skirts to school. This led to November 4 being considered “wear a skirt to school day”. Teachers are now supporting the movement and stand among the students in their protest.

When Jose Piñas heard Mikel’s story, he joined the cause and wore a skirt to school himself. “20 years ago I suffered persecution and insults for my sexual orientation in the institute where I am now a teacher,” he stated on social media. “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.”

Manuel Ortega and Borja Velázquez followed Piñas’ example. They were inspired to join the cause when one of their students was bullied in class that month. Therefore, they wore a skirt for work instead of their usual trousers.

Ortega was horrified by the mocking of a student who wore an anime t-shirt at the Virgen de Sacedon primary school in Valladolid. He was called homophobic slurs and was forced into changing out of embarrassment. Since the beginning of May, Ortega and Velazquez have been wearing a skirt to class to “promote tolerance”.

He tweeted: “A school that educates with respect, diversity, co-education, and tolerance. Dress how you want! We join the campaign #clotheshavenogender.”

(Left to Right) Borja Velázques, José Piñas and Manuel Ortega - The teachers who wore skirts to school to support Mikel

Bibliography

Dollimore, L. (2021, May 31) Male teachers wear skirts to school after pupil was expelled for wearing one. Metro. https://metro.co.uk/2021/05/31/spain-male-teachers-wear-skirts-to-class-after-student-expelled-for-wearing-one-14682361/

Khan, A. (2021, June 4) Male Teachers in Spain Wear Skirts to Support Student Bullied for His Fashion Choices. Teen Vogue. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/male-teachers-in-spain-wear-skirts-to-support-student-bullied-for-his-fashion-choices

Marr, R. (2021, June 8) Male teachers wear skirts to school after boy sent to psychologist for his outfit. Metro Weekly. https://www.metroweekly.com/2021/06/male-teachers-wear-skirts-to-school-after-boy-sent-to-psychologist-for-his-outfit/

Powys, E. (2021, June 7) Defiant teachers wear skirts to school after student cruelly sent to psychologist. Pink News. https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/06/07/spain-teachers-wear-skirts-school-clothes-have-no-gender-mikel-gomez/