Taiwan High School’s New Dress Code Allows Boys to Wear Skirts

Banqiao Senior High School, which is located in New Taipei City, made the announcement on Wednesday. LGBTQ+ campaigners said the move was a boost for gender equality, according to Reuters via The Straits Times.

This change came when male students and teachers came to school in May in skirts during a week-long campaign to dismantle gender stereotypes. This coincided with the official legalization of same-sex marriage that same month in Taiwan when it became the first country in East Asia to do so.

The current guideline states that male students are required to wear trousers while female students should wear skirts. However this will change in the upcoming academic year and the new dress code will remove any mention of gender specifics.

“It is to boost the students’ autonomy in choosing their uniforms while respecting their rights,” the high school told Reuters.

Policy advocacy director at the Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association, a non-profit that campaigns for LGBTQ+ rights, Du Sih-cheng, applauded the high school’s move.

“This is a progressive step that embraces diversity,” he said. “It will especially give transgender teenagers the freedom to choose what they want to wear in schools.”

Featured image via Facebook / pcsh.bqsa