Larger-than-life actress, cabaret performer, activist, and proud sex professional since the age of eleven, Luana Muniz – arguably one of Brazil’s most famous transgender personalities – shaped a new reality in her hostel by providing a safe working environment for generations of young transgendered girls in neighborhood of Lapa in Rio de Janeiro. Queen of Lapa explores the women’s day-to-day lives, quests for love, the Brazilian political climate, housemate rivalries, all under matriarch Muniz’s watchful and guiding eye.
At eleven years old my biggest concern was buying my first bra, while at the same age, Luana Muñiz paced back and forth each night in the dangerous streets as a prostitute. Expanding over two decades, she has become a national activist, establishing a safe hostel for transexual sex workers in Brazil. This documentary opens the door to a lifestyle that has always and still be considered taboo. It not only shines a light on the realities of the business but gives humanity to the many most people who are considered worthless in our society.
Prostitution has been around since the beginning of time and some of us still pretend it’s something that only happens amongst drug addicts or runaways. When we think of sex workers, there is no humanity only shame and judgment and that behavior is worse for transexuals and transgenders. Luana was an inspiration to many, creating a safe place where workers felt protected, taken care of, and a sense of belonging. She was proud of her lifestyle and taught them to respect themselves, be professional and she treated them like a stern mother figure.
I was surprised to see how young and normal these sex workers were. Normal in a sense that apart from the danger they deal with every day, like escaping near death attacks at the hands of a client, being robbed, raped and disrespected in the streets, they still go home and think about being happy one day, hoping to leave a legacy for their family. I was also surprised how religion played a huge role in their lives, they never left the house without saying a prayer for protection in front of burning candles.
This is a very powerful documentary but it is also very warm and creates a sense of compassion and understanding. It proves that no matter what your differences are, at the core, you are human and everyone deserves to be treated as such.
“Queen of Lapa” is currently doing the film festival circuit
