To protest Russia’s homophobic discrimination, six activists decided to display the rainbow flag in plain sight … with their soccer jerseys.
In Russia, the act of displaying the LGBTQ+ flag in public can get you arrested, in fact openly being anything or supporting LGBTQ+ people in Russia can get you arrested.
So six activists have resorted to creativity: wearing uniforms from their countries’ football teams, turning themselves into the flag and walking around Moscow with PRIDE. The jerseys used are Spain (red), The Netherlands (orange), Brazil (yellow), Mexico (green), Argentina (blue) and Colombia (purple).
The initiative is called The Hidden Flag, which has a website explaining why the group is protesting Russia.
“When Gilbert Baker designed the rainbow flag in 1978, he did so to create a symbol and an icon for the LGTBQ+ community. A symbol, recognisable across the world, that people could use to express their pride.
Unfortunately, 40 years later, there are still countries in which homosexuality is persecuted, sometimes even by jail sentences, and in which the rainbow flag is forbidden.
Russia is one of these countries.”
Part of the purpose behind the #HiddenFlag campaign is to be visible for those in Russia who can’t be due to safety concerns. It’s a strong message fo support from those of us in countries that have made progress on that front. It’s almost like a secret message to our Russian LGBT brothers and sisters, letting them know we’re on their side.
Check out some of their pics below:
by 