Following The Post’s report that a Canadian high school teacher, Kayla Lemieux, who wears large Z-cup prosthetic breasts in class, rarely wears them outside of school, she has been placed on paid leave by the Halton School District.
Although not currently assigned to active duties, she remains employed by the Halton District School Board, according to spokesperson Heather Francey.
Lemieux’s suspension comes after Education Minister Stephen Lecce and Halton Region MPPs Natalie Pierre, Stephen Crawford, and Effie Triantafilopoulos criticized the school board for failing to prioritize the safety and interests of students.
During a school board meeting on Wednesday, one mother named Lynn emphasized the need for scrutiny of forms of identity and expression in the school environment to ensure the safety of children.
Despite months of parent complaints about Kayla Lemieux wearing prosthetic breasts in front of students, the school board has largely remained silent on the issue.
Photos and videos taken at the school show her wearing tight clothing with prominent nipples visible beneath the fabric of her top.
The controversy has resulted in threats of violence against Lemieux and school officials, leading to chaotic board of education meetings.
The situation gained global attention and reached a critical point after The Post’s report last month revealed that Lemieux frequently presents as a man, ditching the prosthetics, wig, and makeup outside of school, which has caused shockwaves in the district.
Photos published by The Post depicted a casually dressed Lemieux wearing men’s sweatpants, sneakers, and a puffer vest, without her prosthetic breasts, makeup, glasses, or wig.
A neighbor claimed that this was a rare appearance for Lemieux. In an interview with The Post, Lemieux denied wearing prosthetic breasts and claimed that the person in the photos was not her, although she could not prove it.
She stated, “These are real,” referring to her breasts, and said that she could not reveal the identity of the person in the photos.
Lemieux explained that she was born intersex, not transgender, and although she began undergoing hormone replacement therapy in 2021, she had not been officially diagnosed with gigantomastia, a rare condition that causes excessive breast tissue growth.
The Cleveland Clinic states that only about 300 cases have been reported.
Parents who were angered by the situation demanded that the Halton District School Board implement a dress code for teachers.
The proposal was initially rejected last year due to concerns about violating Ontario’s Human Rights Code. However, in January, the school board agreed to create a policy requiring teachers to maintain an appropriate and professional appearance.
While speaking with The Post, Lemieux stated that she would comply with the board’s mandate but denied dressing provocatively.
She said that she did not see any issue with her clothing choices and believed that any negative opinions about her attire were simply personal opinions held by others.
