Students at a school in Brazil wore skirts in an act of solidarity with a trans girl who was punished for wearing the “incorrect” uniform.

Maria Muniz, a 17 year-old who recently came out as trans to classmates at São Cristóvão do Colégio Pedro II in Rio De Janeiro, was given a fine by teachers after she wore a skirt to school instead of trousers.

According to teachers, Muniz wearing a girl’s uniform went against the school’s code of ethics. When she was punished for her uniform choice, all of her classmates turned up in skirts too, forcing the school to reverse their decision.

“I always turned up in trousers, but I felt repressed and for me wearing a skirt was about expressing my freedom over who I am inside and not how society sees me,” said Maria Muniz.

“I am really happy about the way my classmates supported me and I hope it serves as an example to others to feel encouraged to do the right thing.

“I was always taught at school to accept who you are, I am only trying to live that.”

Since the incident, the school have promise to revise their current code of ethics. A spokesperson for the school commented, “The current Student Code of Ethics will be overhauled with the participation of the whole community, including the active participation of students, who may suggest changes they deem necessary.”