Parents threaten lawsuit over issues with Oakville teacher’s attire

Parents are threatening legal action against the Halton District School Board if a staff dress code is not implemented.

A lawyer told CHCH News that he was contacted by three parents who are upset about the attire of a transgender teacher at Oakville Trafalgar High School with massive prosthetic breasts.

Rishi Bandhu, the lawyer for the parent group, said his clients want the school board to ensure staff follow a dress policy as well.

“I think the concern relates to the inappropriateness on the face of this attire,” Bandhu said.

READ MORE: School board allows Oakville teacher to continue wearing prosthetic breasts

“There is a student dress code and that student dress code articulates a number of values and beliefs about not having obscenity or pornography. It expressly says that clothing should not show nipples.”

The shop teacher garnered international attention after photos and videos of them were shared on Twitter, showing them wearing large prosthetic breasts.

A number of students and parents said the teacher’s appearance was “distracting” and “inappropriate.”

The images of the educator shared online also led to a protest at the school on Sept. 23, where participants got rowdy and said children should be “protected.”

READ MORE: Protest held over Oakville Trafalgar high school teacher’s large prosthetic breasts

Despite the controversy, the school board says a dress code for teachers would likely be considered “discriminatory.”

HDSB Education Director Curtis Ennis emphasized the board’s commitment to human rights and said their decision-making process “is informed by opinions from leading employment law firms with human rights and equity advisers.”

In addition to the Ontario Human Rights Code, the school board says a “statutory freeze” prohibits employers from altering working conditions during collective agreement negotiations.

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But Bandhu said the board needs to consider the concerns of parents.

“Parents have concerns about this and they have tried to articulate those concerns through school council meetings,” he said.

Bandhu said he has asked the board whether the student dress code applies to staff, but he has yet to receive a response.

Several schools in the Halton region have received bomb threats this academic year amid the controversy with the shop teacher.

READ MORE: Classes continue at Halton school board despite receiving threat