A group of boys at a Brazil school have donned skirts, after a transgender girl was fined by teachers for wearing the “incorrect” uniform.

17-year-old Maria Muniz, who recently came out as trans at São Cristóvão do Colégio Pedro II, was disciplined by teachers and handed a fine after she wore a skirt to school, instead of the regulation boys’ trousers.

The school claimed that their Code of Ethics did not permit “male” students to wear female uniforms – but was forced to backtrack on the decision when the girl’s classmates decided to protest by all wearing skirts to school too.

Maria Muniz said: “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.

“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.”

The school said in a statement that it would change the rules to allow for greater gender expression, saying: “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.”