RIO DE JANEIRO — In an unprecedented celebration of human dignity, Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival will witness a historic tribute this weekend as the Porto da Pedra samba school honors 83-year-old Lourdes Barreto and sex workers nationwide. This groundbreaking parade represents the culmination of Barreto’s six-decade journey from teenage sex worker to internationally recognized activist.
The theme “From life’s oldest times, the sweet and bitter kiss of the night” serves as the final installment in creative director Mauro Quintaes’ trilogy exploring marginalized communities. Unlike previous superficial references to sex work in Carnival, this presentation centrally focuses on class struggle and professional dignity without apology or glamorization.
Barreto, who co-founded the Brazilian Network of Prostitutes in the 1980s, expressed astonishment at the honor. “Who would have thought that a prostitute would be honored?” she remarked from her home in Belem ahead of traveling to Rio for the festivities.
Despite Brazil’s progressive 2002 labor ministry recognition of prostitution as an official occupation—granting access to social security benefits—systemic challenges persist. Legal ambiguities between voluntary sex work and criminal sexual exploitation enable continued police targeting of practitioners.
Academic experts note the cultural significance of this Carnival theme. Juliana Barbosa, communications professor at the Federal University of Parana, emphasizes that samba schools historically leverage their platform to amplify social conversations within Black communities before spreading awareness to broader audiences.
Approximately 40 sex workers from across Brazil will participate in Saturday’s parade alongside hundreds of performers. Thauany Laressa, a 27-year-old sex worker from Rondonia, hopes the spectacle will foster public compassion and professional respect for those in her occupation.
The tribute coincides with Barreto’s recent recognition by the BBC as one of 100 inspiring women worldwide, placing her alongside Olympic athlete Rebeca Andrade and climate activist Adenike Oladosu—a testament to her lifelong advocacy for HIV prevention policies and workers’ rights.