Kids were stunned when they saw their teachers in skirts on May 2nd. Manuel Ortega and Borja Velázquez, aged 37 and 36, went dressed like this to the Virgen de Sacedón Primary public school (Pedrajas de San Esteban, Valladolid) to give a lesson through clothing. The day before, Ortega heard a homophobic insult in his classroom towards a boy who was wearing a sweatshirt with manga drawings. The minor lowered his head and ended up removing it. The teacher was alarmed and thought about how to teach that the clothes mean nothing and that everyone dresses as they want. Velázquez, head of studies, supported her idea of ​​wearing a skirt, since teachers are "references" in classes, to open a debate on tolerance and diversity.

Teachers discuss the impact of their idea. Ortega, who chose a blue bib skirt, explains that the author of those disqualifying words did not understand the significance of his words despite the scolding. That is why they took action to break with childhood prejudices, often learned at home and not at school. Velázquez, who put on a Scottish type, explains that the objective was "to teach that you have to change and that words hurt." In the talks they sought to show that boys are free to play with kitchens or have long hair and that girls can wear it short or enjoy soccer. The two colleagues comment that they have noticed changes or more respect towards different tastes and with sincere apologies in case of inadmissible insults. This is “the tip of the iceberg”, they say, and must be complemented by more action. This school has a purple corner to illustrate toxic behavior in relationships or a non-violence kit, created by the students, with medicines such as "respect plasters" or "brazos". The slogan, they insist, is to offer "universal values" combined with Mathematics or Language.

Specialists in LGTBI integration and normalization insist on the value of mixing acts that can be understood as anecdotal with constant training in these rights. Àlex Bixquert, coordinator of the trans policy group of the State Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Trans and Bisexuals (FELGTB), highlights that this helps to raise awareness “by having models and references”. A gesture "has no transforming capacity," he adds, but if active decisions are added to it, minors are encouraged to understand that "there is nothing wrong" in being the way they are. Bixquert speaks with regret of his years in high school and how he felt like "a weirdo" without referents to show a non-normative expression. “It would have been a relief,” he says, since he also comes from a small town where models of diversity were lacking. In addition, he says, these protest actions transcend the LGTBI and benefit the whole of society, free to do what they want without labels. Marina García, a psychologist and sex therapist with experience in the LGTBI field, has given workshops in institutes and highlights the positive of these acts towards discriminated people and against strict models. “The bad thing is that it stays in something symbolic”, he warns.

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This was also understood by 15-year-old Mikel Gómez, who supported the #LaRopaNoTieneGénero movement by wearing a skirt to class at his school in the Basque Country and, when told by a teacher to go to the psychologist, recorded himself denouncing it. He uploaded his image to the Tik Tok social network, and got hundreds of boys to record themselves as him, wearing a skirt. Gómez affirms that wearing a skirt does not make him gay and that his action was a sign of support for feminists and trans people and against bullying. The result was that on November 4, many adolescents went to class wearing this garment as a sign of support for the youngster.

Nails Painted

The teachers from Pedrajas insist that school is essential to teach respect, but that families are essential for the lessons to take root: "They are universal values, not indoctrinators." This thought is confirmed by Fernando Ruiz, a Basque father who stood up when he saw the tears of his nine-year-old son, when they called him "faggot or girl" just for painting his nails. Ruiz decided to do it too and his claim on social networks became so viral that the boy felt his support and now he continues to color or put on makeup without fear. "Children cannot insult each other like that, they are things that come from home and an example must be set," criticizes this man, who celebrates that these offenses stopped at school. They even released a book, Long live colored nails!, to help eliminate stigmas towards those who break out of rigid and outdated social conventions.

The episode of the skirts in Valladolid reminds Manuel Sánchez, a professor in Seville, of his crusade. A few years ago he wore a pink sweater in class and was told that "it was for girls." He replied that the colors do not belong to anyone and garments cannot be assigned to men or women, with examples such as the skirts in the Scots or the standardization of women's pants. Sánchez understood that he was a "model" in the classroom and painted his nails. Little by little, the teacher boasts, they have naturalized diversity and feel confident to express themselves however they want. Symbols such as soccer players, like when the Betic Borja Iglesias also painted his nails, help to break down walls. The educator has noticed an increase in respect and tolerance and invites these attitudes to be extended and accompanied by more involvement: "It's not just taking our photo, it's a long process."

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