The 15-year-old boy sparked a movement after posting a TikTok explaining why he was sent out of class.
Male teachers across Spain are continuing to show support for the #LaRopaNoTieneGenero (Clothes Have No Gender) movement by wearing skirts to school.
The movement was sparked last November when a 15-year-old boy shared how he was pulled from class and sent to a psychologist for wearing a skirt.
In a TikTok video that has since gone viral, Mikel Gómez, a teen from Bilbao, explained how he wore the item of clothing into school to challenge gender norms and support women’s liberation.
However, he was removed from class and sent to a psychologist who questioned him about his gender identity and whether he identified as a woman.
The teen says in the video that he replied, “I don’t put myself in any gender, but if I have to define myself, I’m a man.”
The TikTok quickly went viral – it now has over half a million likes – and led to nationwide solidarity protests, in which hundreds of teen boys wore skirts to school.
@nattaalii14@mikelgmz ? #4n #4noviembre #falda #fypã‚· #paratii♬ because it hurts – ??????
Male Spanish teachers soon joined the cause once the movement gained traction.
“20 years ago I suffered persecution and insults for my sexual orientation in high school where I am now a teacher,” Jose Piñas tweeted alongside a photo of him wearing a skirt. “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.”
Hace 20años sufrà persecución e insultos xmi orientación sexual en el instituto en el q ahora soy profesor, muchs profes, miraron para otro lado. Quiero unirme a la causa del alumno, Mikel, q ha sido expulsado y enviado al psicólogo por ir a clase con falda. #LaRopaNoTieneGenero pic.twitter.com/5PEN9vityY
— Jose Piñas (@joxepinas) November 9, 2020
Teachers Manuel Ortega and Borja Velázquez of Virgen de Sacedón elementary school, Valladolid, also chose to wear skirts to school throughout May of this year. According to El Pais, the men decided to do so when one of their students was bullied with homophobic slurs.
“A school that educates in respect, diversity, co-education and tolerance,” Velázquez wrote on Twitter. “Dress as you want!”
Un cole que educa en el respeto, la diversidad, la coeducaión y la tolerancia. ¡VÃstete como quieras! Nos sumamos a la inicitiva #LaRopaNoTieneGénero @CEIPVdeSacedon @educacyl @cfievalladolid @FTriangulo @fecylgtb pic.twitter.com/GgnoejXe2N
— Borja Velázquez (@borjamusico) April 29, 2021
Male and female students from a group of schools in Galicia also committed to wearing skirts on the 4th of each month for six months in support.
The movement has even inspired solidarity from students in Canada.
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