What a blunder, Minister! How about fixing the situation?

* Originally published in Citizenship Blog

The Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, was afraid that his ministry would undertake a campaign that was extremely necessary to boost the self-esteem of sex workers and even their safety and health. Because of this, he eliminated the campaign and committed a tremendous injustice: he fired its author for doing what was necessary.

However, the growing influence of radical religious groups cannot be ignored. We must remember, therefore, that such influence has already brought the President of the Republic herself and even the mayor of São Paulo to their knees.

Or has someone already forgotten?

Dilma Rousseff had to "kiss the cross" in 2010 regarding the abortion issue, which was exploited by José Serra to make her lose votes among fundamentalist Christians; Fernando Haddad, while Minister of Education, had to bury the anti-homophobia kit, a booklet that preached tolerance to students and which was nicknamed the "gay kit" by homophobes.

Yes, Padilha cowered before the enormous groups of lunatics who have been gaining political influence. However, he wasn't the only one. If we're going to attack him, let's attack all the others, from the government and the opposition, who have already shrunk before these groups.

But although the Minister of Health is not the only one, there is one fact that makes his case even more unacceptable: firing the author of a modern, necessary campaign that could have saved lives. Abandoning the campaign was terrible, but sacrificing its author was tragic.

Now, let's bear in mind that the political situation in Brazil is very complicated. Okay, Padilha, Dilma, or Haddad could have supported, or would support, modern and desirable public policies or speeches, but such policies and speeches, without being adopted very carefully, would certainly elect their opponents.

In 2010, if Dilma had stood firm in defending the urgent need to legalize abortion in Brazil, today we would be governed by none other than José Serra, who campaigned hand in hand with Silas Malafaia.

One fact remains: Serra's victory would certainly give these radical religious groups even more power than they have today.

Right?

With Haddad, it would be the same thing: if he hadn't backed down from the campaign to encourage tolerance among public school students, Serra would be governing São Paulo today. And anyone who lives in my city knows very well what that would mean…

Let's return to Padilha: let's suppose he does indeed run for governor of São Paulo next year – and that's certainly what made him back down. Imagine what his opponents would do in the election campaign thanks to the aborted campaign. They would tell those hordes of religious fanatics that he encouraged prostitution.

The slogan "I'm happy being a prostitute" would be presented to one of the country's most conservative electorates as "encouraging" our girls to become "sex workers," even though this is utter nonsense, since it's at least uncertain that the ideal life for any woman is to sell her own body and feelings, just as it shouldn't be for any man, for any human being.

While not the "ideal life," prostitution is a path that men and women have chosen since the dawn of civilization, some five millennia ago. It's a "path" that those who choose it do so without harming anyone – except themselves, as they expose themselves to diseases, psychopaths, and even violence.

But, as they say, prostitutes differ positively from politicians because they only sell what belongs to them. Oh, is it unfair to stigmatize all politicians? Well, it's as unfair as wanting to humiliate people who do no harm to anyone.

A word of warning: before anyone says that I am defending Padilha's conduct, which was very poorly received and will certainly have very bad consequences, let me explain that I am absolutely in favor of the campaign that was aborted and, even more so, against the dismissal of its author, who lost his job for doing the right thing.

However, what I propose here is a reflection: okay, progressive politicians turn their backs on this ultraconservative electorate and support policies like this – which, although correct, are clearly unacceptable to a significant portion of the electorate. What is the result of this? The election of the preferred candidates of these religious fanatics, of course.

Does anyone doubt the power that someone like Silas Malafaia and his ilk would have if Serra were elected? Oh, is Dilma's government the same? Want to find out for yourself? Well, I'll tell you: if these people return to power, with all the media on their side, they will establish a dictatorship in the country. Nobody will even be able to go out on the street to protest.

Democracy is a somewhat complicated concept at times. In cases such as government awareness campaigns that offend certain ideological idiosyncrasies, it is necessary to have the skill to say what needs to be said while always bearing in mind that a huge sector of society is very "sensitive" to such desirable advances of modern times.

Would it be possible to run such a campaign for "sex workers" without leaving small minds with the impression that it's "advocating prostitution"? Maybe yes, maybe no – these radical groups are extremely intolerant and see a problem in everything. But perhaps it would be possible.

Padilha's challenge, in order to avoid irreconcilably alienating an equally important sector of society – progressive groups, social movements, unions, etc. – will be to find a campaign solution that achieves the objective without offending sensibilities, however frankly idiotic those sensitivities may be.

Therefore, the first step the minister could take, within the aforementioned objective of making an omelet without breaking (too many) eggs, would be to do justice to the wronged employee by reinstating him and engaging in dialogue with him. Following that, he could demonstrate his competence by creating an effective campaign that wouldn't jeopardize his political career.

Yes, talking is easier than doing. But to be governor of the richest and most developed state in the Federation, a state that has been mired for 20 years under the dictatorship of an ultraconservative political group that prevents it from achieving social and economic progress equal to that of the rest of the country, the person has to show that they are capable of overcoming adversity.