Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 25 February 2020
Brazilian transgender dancer shatters Carnival parade taboo

By MAURICIO SAVARESE there's more of us outside,
Associated Press there's more attacks."
SAO PAULO (AP) — When Sao Paulo is trying to root
dancer Camila Prins en- out persecution of LGBT
tered Sao Paulo's Carnival people during Carnival,
parade grounds, a cos- and this year set up 20 tents
tume of feathers clinging spread among major street
to her sinuous body, she parties to handle cases
fulfilled a dream of femi- of violence against the
nine beauty nearly three community. Psychologists,
decades old. police officers and social
Prins says she first realized workers are on hand un-
she wanted to be a wom- til Wednesday for revelers
an at a Carnival party at who are victimized.
age 11, when, like the oth- English teacher Alessandra
er boys, she was allowed Salvador, a transgender
to dress like a girl as part woman who encouraged
of the burlesque festivities. revelers to come to the city
Now, in the final minutes of hall tent at the LGBT street
Saturday, she became the party Minhoqueens, said
first transgender woman to she was excited by Prins' se-
lead the drum section of a lection. "I don't even watch
top samba school in either parades that much, but this
of the renowned Carnival year I will when she is on,"
parades put in Sao Paulo Transgender godmother Camila Prins, representing the Colorado do Bras samba school, performs Salvador said. "It is good to
and Rio de Janeiro. at Carnival in the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. see one of us being talked
Prins, 40, was hand-picked Associated Press up. We don't get it so often.
to be "godmother" of the rose to Sao Paulo's top a similar role, and togeth- the main challengers for If we don't get that in Car-
Colorado do Brás samba samba league only two er they worked to dazzle the title. nival, we won't get it any-
school's drum section, an years ago, made a bold fans in the Sambadrome Keila Simpson, president of where else."
iconic role fought over by decision in picking Prins bleachers with their beauty Brazil's National Association It's been a long road for
dozens of models and TV for the role, despite Brazil's and sex appeal. Prins said of Transvestites and Trans- Prins to reach the big
celebrities. Her duty was to Carnival being a party at she was counting on her sexuals, was happy Prins leagues. She has worked
dance infectiously for 65 which few things have nev- penetrating brown eyes, secured her prominent as a professional dancer
minutes in front of the drum- er been tried. long blond hair, strong legs, Carnival role, and said their for 20 years and, though
mers, using her legs to drive Transgender people re- open smile and imposing community aims to make she lives in a small town in
their rhythm while judges main something of a taboo breasts to help win points cases like hers the new nor- Switzerland with her hus-
assessed the school's pa- among Brazilians, even in from the judges. mal. band, practices her steps
rade. "Gorgeous women Sao Paulo, the country's Colorado do Brás fin- "We have to be proud of at home all year and lis-
wanted to be here. I'm very most cosmopolitan city ished the 2019 parade in Camila and hope her sym- tens to samba incessantly.
excited because this shows and host to the world's larg- 11th place, only two spots bolic message allows us to As Carnival nears, she splits
we can be anywhere. We est gay pride parade. Brazil above the cutoff for being think of reducing violence her dance routine with ab
can be godmother of the has more slayings of trans- relegated back to a lower against trans people. Why workouts and squats at a
drummers, we can be own- vestites and transgender league. Directors of the can people celebrate her gym, then makes her an-
ers of a samba school," Prins people than any country in samba school decided to at the Sambadrome while nual return to Brazil.
told The Associated Press the world. In 2019, 124 were try for something different trans people on the street Prins' first time dancing as a
before the parade. "Soon killed, 21 of them in Sao this year, since the group are subject to violence?" samba school's godmother
they will see many other Paulo state. has fewer resources than Simpson said. "We don't came in 2018, in the sec-
transgender girls, who will As godmother of the drum richer samba schools. Its have data, but there are ond division of Sao Paulo's
find it easier than I did." section, Prins teamed up floats and costumes were many violent cases against Carnival league. And it
Colorado do Brás, which with a drum queen who has clearly less luxurious than us during Carnival. Because wasn't easy. q
Haiti says soldier died of wounds after

shootout with police

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti outside the national pal- not authorized to speak to
(AP) — The Haitian Ministry ace, in an escalation of the press.
of Defense said Monday protests over police pay Police protests began this
that a soldier has died from and working conditions. month after a half-dozen
wounds suffered during an At least three men were officers were fired over
exchange of gunfire with taken to a hospital near their attempt to unionize.
police officers protesting the shooting with wounds The demonstrations are not
outside army headquar- to the legs and feet that directly linked to anti-cor-
ters. did not appear to be life- ruption protests that roiled
The ministry said another threatening. Uniformed Haiti for most of last year,
soldier is in stable condition police officers told an AP but they draw on the same
with a bullet wound. journalist that the wound- widespread dissatisfaction
Armed off-duty police officers take cover during and exchange
of gunfire with army soldiers, as they protest over police pay Haitian police officers ex- ed men were fellow offi- with Haiti's shrinking econ-
and working conditions, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, Feb. 23, changed gunfire for hours cers. The uniformed officers omy and President Jovenel
2020. Sunday with soldiers of the spoke on condition of ano- Moise's inability to improve
Associated Press newly reconstituted army nymity because they were the quality of life.q