'KIDS, JOSE IS NOW MELISA' - MEET BUENOS AIRES' FIRST TRANSSEXUAL TEACHER
By Johanna Chiefo
CLARIN/Worldcrunch
Published on 2012-08-29 16:36:43
http://www.worldcrunch.com/culture-society/-039-kids-jose-is-now-melisa-039-meet-buenos-aires-039-first-transsexual-teacher/transsexuals-gender-education-teachers/c3s9458/#.UD7ss9ZlSWE
Chess teacher Melisa welcoming kids at the door - (photo: clarinweb.tv)BUENOS AIRES - The July winter vacation was coming to a close and José's decision was maturing: he would simply tear down what remained of the "closet" he'd slowly been coming out of. So on July 30, José arrived at the elementary school that he works at in Buenos Aires as "Melisa," and became the city's first ever transgender teacher.
Weeks earlier he had met with school administrators to inform them of his decision: "I have an obligation to be coherent with my deepest sentiments that are leading me to take this step in my life, a life that will never be lived to the fullest if I don't show the essence of my own being. And my being is profoundly feminine."
Her students have always known her as José; now she is Melisa.
"Teacher, men don't wear their nails long," students told her during the transition. Some of the changes appear to have been completely accepted, but seeing her in heels and a skirt still provokes surprise. "You're pretty, teacher!" and "Why did you change now and not earlier?" were some of the comments.
