Rio Carnival Parade to Highlight Story of Trans Woman Nearly Burned at the Stake

A Rio de Janeiro Carnival parade will spotlight the story of Xica Manicongo, a 16th-century trans woman who was nearly executed by the Portuguese Inquisition. Paraiso do Tuiuti, one of Rio’s top samba schools, will use its performance to honor her legacy and highlight violence against transgender people in Brazil, which has the world’s highest trans homicide rate.

Xica Manicongo, originally Francisco Manicongo, was captured in the Kingdom of Kongo and enslaved in Brazil.
She was persecuted for cross-dressing and same-sex relations but escaped execution by denying her identity.
In 2010, activists renamed her Xica, recognizing her identity and the injustice she suffered.

Tuiuti’s performance will feature a section exclusively composed of trans women, a first in Carnival history.
The goal is to give trans people a sense of belonging to history, rather than just being statistics of violence.
Notable figures, including Brazil’s first trans lawmakers and trans rights advocate Bruna Benevides, will participate.

Brazil has reported 106 trans murders in 2024, making it the deadliest country for transgender people.
Tuiuti’s parade aims to send a political message, raising awareness of anti-trans violence and discrimination.
By using Carnival as a platform, Tuiuti hopes to spark national dialogue and inspire change for Brazil’s trans community.

Source: AP News