Rio Carnival Parade to Honour Sex Workers in Historic Tribute
In a groundbreaking move, the annual Rio Carnival parade will feature a historic tribute to sex workers this weekend. The Porto da Pedra samba school, based in the low-income city of São Gonçalo across the bay from Rio de Janeiro, will dedicate its elaborate performance at the famed Sambodrome to honour sex workers of all genders, including veteran activist Lourdes Barreto.
Dismantling Stigma Through Celebration
Mauro Quintaes, Porto da Pedra's creative director, has curated this year's parade titled "From life's oldest times, the sweet and bitter kiss of the night" as the final chapter in a trilogy he envisioned at the beginning of his career. Quintaes has a history of focusing on marginalized groups, having previously created parades centered on thieves and individuals with severe mental health issues.
"The school is trying to make these women more seen, less invisible," Quintaes clarified. "It's not an apology nor a glamorization."
More than 50 sex workers from across Brazil are expected to march on Saturday evening alongside hundreds of other participants. The parade aims to spark dialogue about the profession's pervasive stigma in Brazilian society.
Lourdes Barreto: A Lifetime of Activism
Eighty-three-year-old Lourdes Barreto, who co-founded the Brazilian Network of Prostitutes in the 1980s, expressed surprise at being honoured. "Who would have thought that a prostitute would be honored?" she remarked during a video call from her home in Belem.
Barreto fled her home in Brazil's northeastern state of Paraiba six decades ago, a move that led her into sex work and a lifetime of activism. She has challenged military police, campaigned for HIV prevention policies, and even ran for a councilwoman seat. Her dedication was recently acknowledged by the BBC, which included her in its 2024 list of 100 inspiring and influential women globally.
"I've always seen myself as a working woman," Barreto maintains. "Not sinning, not doing anything wrong."
Legal Recognition and Ongoing Challenges
In Brazil, voluntary adult sex work is not a crime and has been recognized as an official occupation by the labour ministry since 2002. This recognition grants sex workers access to social security and other work benefits, marking significant progress in labor rights.
However, challenges persist. The Global Network of Sex Work Projects highlights that police continue to target sex workers and carry out evictions. This discrepancy stems from a lack of explicit legal definitions for prostitution and sexual exploitation (the latter being a crime), which gives police arbitrary discretionary power according to a 2017 report by the nonprofit group Davida.
Carnival as a Catalyst for Social Change
Juliana Barbosa, a communications professor and Carnival expert, notes that Porto da Pedra's central focus on sex workers and emphasis on class struggle is groundbreaking. While sex work has been evoked in previous parades, this level of dedication represents a new frontier.
"The theme stays for months within those communities, being sung about and discussed, and then it spreads to a very large number of people," Barbosa explained. "It can contribute to social change. Not as a rule, not on all subjects, but it has that tendency."
Andrea de Andrade, 39, who will lead Porto da Pedra's percussion section as drum queen, echoed this sentiment. She recalled how Carnival themes from 20 years ago educated her on issues she had never encountered.
"Many people don't have access to much, not just due to a lack of funds, but also a lack of time," de Andrade said. "Many don't read, don't study — but Brazilians love Carnival."
Hopes for Greater Compassion and Acceptance
Thauany Laressa, a 27-year-old sex worker from Rondonia, expressed hope that the parade would foster greater compassion and acceptance.
"I hope that people who see the parade will have more compassion when interacting with sex workers and help them accept it as a profession," Laressa said. "I hope that people will start respecting our lives, our way of life and our job."
The parade represents a significant moment in Brazil's ongoing conversation about sex work, combining cultural celebration with social advocacy as Carnival celebrations commence across the country.
