A veteran University worker in Brazil has been sentenced to 1 year in prison for “misgendering” a trans-identified male student. Luís Adripaulo Mendes Barros was charged under the nation’s notorious “social racism” law after a trans-identified male student reported him to police for “transphobia.”
The incident occurred on October 14 of 2022 at the Federal University of Paraíba, one of the two main public Universities in the coastal eastern state of Paraíba, Brazil. That day, a male student named Odara Moraes entered one of the women’s washrooms on campus only to be confronted by a female janitor who challenged his presence in the women’s facilities.
Speaking to Reduxx last year, the female janitor noted that she was initially confused by Moraes, seeing him as a biological male wearing a “crop top and mini skirt.” But the janitor, whose name Reduxx is withholding for her privacy, politely informed him that he was not in the correct washroom, a statement she said had not been intended to cause offense.
Doesn’t matter what it was intended to. What matters is the feefees of the man in the crop top and miniskirt.
Moraes immediately became combative, pulling out his phone to begin filming her and calling her “transphobic.” He also demanded that she refer to him with feminine pronouns.
He was thrilled. A victim!
Upon realizing that the janitor was a contracted employee at the University, he demanded to speak with campus administration. Unsure of what else to do, the janitor brought Moraes to the office of Luís Adripaulo Mendes Barros, the school’s administrative director. During the short journey to the office, Moraes continued to lambast the female janitor, calling her names and accusing her repeatedly of transphobia.
Barros attempted to de-escalate the situation, but Moraes refused and instead repeatedly asserted that he would call the police and press charges against the janitor for “transphobia” – a criminal offense in Brazil.
Unsure of what to do, Barros asked Moraes if he had any documents proving he was legally a woman, but Moraes responded that his “word” should simply be enough. As Moraes continued to insist he was a ‘woman,’ Barros attempted to calmly clarify: “You are trans, not a woman.”
Moraes then stormed out of the office screaming that he had been “discriminated against.”
Four days later, both the janitor and Barros were contacted by police, informing them they were under investigation for criminal transphobia.
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The female janitor ultimately lost her job after the school refused to renew her contract, and she was left unemployed after almost more than a decade. After being made aware of their situation, MATRIA Brazil, a women’s rights organization, stepped in to offer legal assistance to the two workers and launched a fundraiser to assist the janitor support her family.
Both the janitor and Barros were formally charged in October of last year with aggravated prejudice under the classification of “social racism,” an offense created by Brazil’s Supreme Court in 2019 when it found that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity was in fact covered under already pre-existing anti-discrimination laws relating to race or national origin. The trial itself began in March of 2025, and concluded in June of 2026.
15 months! Because a man invaded a women’s toilet and then bullied the two people who told him he was in the wrong toilet!
The female janitor was acquitted of her charges, with Judge Manuel Maia de Vasconcelos Neto determining that he was unsatisfied that her conduct, in her particular role and circumstances, met the standard for criminal conviction.
Barros, however, was found guilty because the court determined that he knowingly and authoritatively denied the transgender student’s “right to use the bathroom” corresponding to his self-declared gender identity, and rejected his explanations that he was merely protecting women or following his duties.
It’s insane and disgusting and evil.
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