Techno BDSM punk band Hatari make powerful statement in solidarity with queer Russians at Moscow gig
Andrean Sigurgeirsson wearing rainbow wings (Instagram)
BDSM punk band Hatari have won praise for protesting against Russia’s “gay propaganda” law during a performance in Moscow with an enormous pair of rainbow wings.
Andrean Sigurgeirsson, a choreographer and dancer with the band, walked out on stage wearing huge rainbow wings to show support for Russia’s persecuted LGBT+ community.
The band – who are best known for representing Iceland at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest – have been widely praised for the powerful statement.
Hatari member hit out at Russia over ‘gay propaganda’ law.
Writing on Instagram following the performance, Andrean noted that Russia’s “gay propaganda” law “increases the stigmatisation of LGBTQ+ people in society”.
“The law violates people’s rights to freedom of speech, and the law effectively bans all public demonstrations or events speaking in favour of LGBT rights. Many important LGBTQ+ support networks have been banned on the internet because of this law.”
He also noted that Pride parades are met with resistance in Russia and drew attention to the gay purge in Chechnya.
LGBTQ+ people live in fear as they are being discriminated against and attacks on queer people often go unreported.
“Russian authorities do not care about queer people, they actively try to harm, torture and murder LGBTQ+ people in Russia,” he continued.
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hatari are legends pic.twitter.com/wPz82r1Di1
— | anita. (@holyhatari) November 16, 2019
“The Russian president, government and police give a silent consent to these crimes.
“LGBTQ+ people live in fear as they are being discriminated against and attacks on queer people often go unreported.
“This is for you, the brave, beautiful and kind-hearted human beings who are LGBTQ+ in Russia. Thank you for sharing your stories with me and I hope one day that Russia will rise from their hate and learn that love is simply love.”
The band urged people to ‘be who you are’ in protest or Russia’s anti-LGBT+ laws.
The official Hatari Instagram account also shared photos of the stunt and wrote: “Be who you are – now matter [who] you are.”
The protest comes just weeks after a new study found that Russian schoolchildren have overwhelmingly positive views of LGBT+ people. The results came as a surprise after the “gay propaganda” law was introduced in 2013, which effectively bans the “promotion” of homosexuality.
Hatari made headlines across Europe earlier this year when they were selected to represent Iceland at Eurovision in Tel Aviv.
Hatari describe themselves as an “anti-capitalist techno BDSM band”. Eurovision 2019 attracted significant controversy and calls to boycott the event due to the decision to allow Israel to host the contest, despite the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hatari protested against the treatment of Palestine by holding up a banner bearing the Palestinian flag during the Eurovision final.
