The Halton District School Board (HDSB) is citing “gender expression” in its defence of a shop teacher who wears massive prosthetic breasts to class.
Last week, footage of the teacher, who was born a man but now identifies as a woman, showed him addressing students with a blonde wig on and wearing large prosthetic breasts with visible nipples.
“The HDSB recognizes the rights of students, staff, parents/guardians and community members to equitable treatment without discrimination based upon gender identity and gender expression. Gender identity and gender expression are protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code,” said an official statement from the school board.
In a statement given to the Toronto Sun, HDSB Chair Margo Shuttleworth claimed that the school was “creating a safety plan” for the Oakville Trafalgar High School teacher (OTHS).
“This teacher (who teaches shop) is an extremely effective teacher,” said Shuttleworth. “All the kids really love being in the class.”
On Tuesday, the board put out a news release claiming that there was disinformation being spread alongside the story in the media. The statement claims that a different teacher was wrongly identified on social media as being responsible.
Some have pointed out that the teacher’s attire violates the school’s dress code.
“Dress codes must prevent students from wearing clothing that exposes or makes visible genitals and nipples,” the OTHS dress code reads.
The HDSB has received public pushback and staff are expecting protests to begin as students head back to school.
“There will be the protesters and the anti-protesters,” said Shuttleworth.
“I do know there have been phone calls made to the school that haven’t been the most pleasant in nature.”
