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'Real' Kayla Lemeiux responds as 'nipple war' breaks out in Z-cup scandal

The intersex teacher of Oakville Trafalgar High School has been placed on leave amid controversial debate over her gigantic prosthetic breasts

This article is based on sources and MEAWW cannot verify this information independently.

ONTARIO, CANADA: Kayla Lemieux, a 39-year-old intersex teacher at Oakville Trafalgar High School who was placed on leave amid controversial debate over her gigantic prosthetic Z-cup breasts on February 28, 2023, has responded to a Twitter user named, Debbie L Kasman, an analyst and a researcher. Kasman wrote an open letter to Doug Downey, Attorney-General of Ontario, regarding Lemieux on November 18, 2022, and recently shared the letter on March 4 after a reporter shared an update that the Halton District School Board is hiring a special adviser after an uproar sparked by teacher’s dress code. To which Lemieux, who denied wearing prosthetics and identifies as a woman with she/her pronouns, responded by saying, "That was a very long read!"

In the letter, Kasman pointed out, “When a man – who is transitioning to a woman – shows up to class wearing oversized prosthetic breasts with protruding nipples, it’s an expression of her gender identity – and is allowed – as is the case with Ms. Lemieux at the Halton District School Board in Oakville. When a woman who isn’t transitioning speaks up about gender and race discrimination as a function of her job, as an expression of her gender identity, and while professionally dressed, the woman is publicly walked off the job."

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'She should be able to express herself'

In September 2022, school officials said they would no longer answer questions about the issue because it was a "personnel matter," as MEAWW previously reported. HDSB Chair Margo Shuttleworth told that protecting their employees' "gender rights" is "the stance the school board is taking and they are standing behind the teacher." A 12th grader at Oakville Trafalgar High School, said, "I'm okay with it. I know some of my friends are a little uncomfortable with it, but I think she should be able to express herself however she wants to."

As per New York Post, several parents demanded that Halton District School Board introduce a dress code for teachers but "the board initially rejected it due to concerns about violating Ontario’s Human Rights Code." However, the board passed a motion on January 3, 2023, ordering the director of education to develop a policy to ensure “appropriate and professional standards of dress and decorum in the classroom,” reported Fox News. Following this, district rep Heather Francey said at a school meeting, as per New York Post, "While not currently on an active assignment, the teacher remains employed with the (Halton District School Board)." The suspension came in place after photos of her wearing men's clothing sparked a debate about the authenticity of the Z-cup prosthetic breasts. However, the "real" Lemieux denied the accusation of wearing fake prosthetic breasts and wrote, "Nope! He's not me."

However, user Kasman has now asked, "You have since explained that your breasts are real, which means you aren't wearing prosthetics. I admire your courage in speaking about this. This leaves the exposed nipples issue. Would you be willing to speak about that?" To which, Lemieux replied, "I may address it in a future tweet." Kasman then wrote, "The sooner, the better, Ms. Lemieux. For everyone involved."

'An extraordinarily unfair burden'

Lemieux then asked, "From your letter, 'Additionally, your expression of gender identity is placing an extraordinarily unfair burden on your school board in order to protect you and all the staff and students involved.' I didn't share my pics to social media or call up the media. So who did that?" And added, "Can you tell me what specific code of conduct you are referring to? I always strive to promote a safe, caring, equitable and inclusive learning environment. I don't think I understand the fire analogy." Kasman wrote, "Here's the Code of Conduct for your board," sharing a link to Halton District School Board's Code of Conduct Brochure, and further said, "It's based on Ontario's Human Rights Code. Under Staff Responsibility, there are 2 critical points: Provide a safe, caring, equitable and inclusive learning environment free from distractions. When you expose your nipples, the learning env'm is not free from distractions."

Lemieux said, "Women should never have to feel ashamed of themselves and do not need to offer excuses to anyone about the way they look no matter how much it may irk someone. Most of the pictures taken of me that are floating around the internet were not even taken while I was at school." Kasman responded by saying, "Fair enough. Did you keep your nipples covered while at school? I’m asking because the Code of Conduct requires you to communicate and monitor school dress code. How can you do that if you don’t follow the dress code? It’s a double standard, no?" Lemieux replied and said, "No I never did that. I always had an undershirt on under my top while at school." Kasman then shared a picture of Lemieux from school writing, "You’re saying this picture isn’t accurate? That your nipples weren’t visible at school?"

'No visible nipples? What’s the compromise?'

She continued to write, "Your right to be yourself ends as soon as the rights of your students are stripped away in return. The board’s obligation to support you also ends when it becomes an extreme hardship to do so," and added, "Sometimes accommodation is not possible because it costs too much, or creates health or safety risks. This is known as undue hardship. The board is allowed to stop supporting you, even though it may have a negative effect on you." "Therefore, you need to figure out how much you’re willing to give in order to remain a teacher. 1. No visible nipples? 2. Smaller breast size? What’s the compromise?" Kasman stressed.

Lemieux then asked, "So please correct me if I'm misunderstanding you. This is the way I understood you tweet. You are saying in order for me to be able to continue teaching I need to either 1. Cover the bumps of my nipples. Or 2. Make my breasts smaller? One of these options would suffice you?" The user replied, "It's not about what would suffice me, Ms. Lemieux. It's about what would meet your needs and the needs of your students at the same time. It's a question for you." 

Commenting on the thread, a user wrote, "I wish people would stops sexualising women’s breasts as well as LGBTQ+ person like me. What does it matter what size women’s breasts are as if they are somehow offensive. The same thing with breastfeeding, it’s natural and beautiful, not sexual."

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.