'It’s not the end of it': Parents 'relieved' as prosthetic-breast-toting teacher Kayla Lemieux suspended
ONTARIO, CANADA: Parents at Kayla Lemieux’s high school have said they are now relieved the teacher has finally been put on leave. Lemieux, a Canadian teacher with prosthetic Z-cup breasts was suspended from her school after pictures of her in men's clothing showed she does not wear the noticeable attire at all times. She had previously claimed her breasts were real and the result of a medical condition.
According to the Halton District School Board (HDSB), Lemieux was placed on paid leave on Tuesday, February 28. However, she continues to be paid for her role at Oakville Trafalgar High School. "While not currently on an active assignment, the teacher remains employed with the HDSB," board spokesperson Heather Francey told the Toronto Sun.
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What are parents saying?
“This should have happened six months ago,” Oakville parent Celina Close told New York Post of Lemieux's suspension. Echoing her thoughts, Al Saplys, whose child is in 12th grade at the school, said, "It’s the right thing to do. I’m pleased that he has been put on administrative leave.” He added, "Quite frankly it’s a distraction nobody wants anymore and it will help return the school to a level of normalcy.”
Reportedly, the school received several bomb and gun violence threats after footage of Lemieux wearing the prosthetics in the classroom surfaced last year. Parents now hope the threats will stop. “Hopefully that will deter anyone who wants to call in bomb threats,” Saplys said.
“The Halton District School Board wasn’t treating it like a crisis. They were saying the right thing but weren’t acting,” he continued. “For some students it’s a big joke, other students were extremely anxious because of the bomb threats. Some were very fearful something was actually going to happen.”
Close stated, "It is a relief the disruption and bomb threats will subside so that the students can focus on their education and enjoying high school life.”
Parents, however, said that the board has still not been specific about dress codes. It has not even specified a timeline for when it can be enforced. "It’s not the end of it. There’s still not enough specificity around a dress code. I hope there’s a professionalism policy specific to a dress code implemented as soon as possible, the same as the student dress code. What’s so difficult about that?” Saplys said. “The Halton District School Boards is dancing around the dates for a policy. There’s no timelines.”
Kayla Lemieux claimed her breasts are a result of 'gigantomastia'
Lemieux, who was at the centre of a controversy due to her appearance, has insisted her breasts are a result of a condition called 'gigantomastia.' However, she admitted she did not ever get a formal medical diagnosis. She has maintained that she is intersex rather than transgender, which means she was born with both male and female sex organs.
Lemieux started transitioning from male to female in 2021. The Halton District School Board defended her in September, saying it would not answer questions about the issue since it was a "personnel matter." According to the district, criticizing or interfering would go against the Ontario Human Rights Code. "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," the board said in a statement.
Lemieux's claims, however, were questioned after photos of her emerged showing her dressed as a man, without the prosthetic breasts and blonde wig. This reportedly led to her suspension.
Kayla Lemieux 'mocked women and education'
In the past, parents claimed Lemieux "mocks women and the education experience," according to the Daily Mail. At a board meeting on Wednesday, March 1, a delegate named Lynn questioned the board's previous suggestion that it would be illegal to tell Lemieux how to dress. Citing a piece from Ontario employment lawyer Howard Levitt, Lynn said, "Every collective agreement permits the employer to require its employees to dress reasonably and even more so to require that a teacher of young people be a role model for civility and professionalism."
A the meeting, a father said, "The issue here is that the board is required by law to solicit the views of the school's councils and to the best of my knowledge the board has not done so. Instead it has circulated a survey and circulating a survey is not the same as soliciting the views of the school's councils."
Meanwhile, Ontario's Minister for Education Stephen Lecce told the Toronto Star, "Halton parents are rightfully outraged at what's taking place," adding, "The welfare of kids should prevail in our judgements in school boards and in government."
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