LGBTQ activists react to Russia’s ban on ‘gay propaganda’ by forming pride flag with jerseys
While the FIFA World Cup 2018 fever is on a rise, fans all across the globe are busy cheering for their favorite teams. But amid all the craziness for the game, six LGBTQLA+ activists decided to use the focus of the game to send out a message about the cause that they felt was necessary to be put out in the open. In order to protest against Russia’s anti-LGBT legislation, which banned “gay propaganda” back in 2013, including the use of the rainbow flag, these six activists wore colourful soccer jerseys from their home countries to create what they called ‘Hidden Flag’ and flaunted it on the streets of Moscow.
Jason Ball, an Australian LGBTI advocate, took to his twitter handle to share the picture of their act with a caption, “In Russia, it’s illegal to display the LGBT pride flag. So during the #WorldCup, these 6 football fans have formed a hidden rainbow flag with their soccer jerseys, to protest Russia’s discriminatory laws in plain sight. #HiddenFlag”
The activists wore jerseys from Spain, Netherlands, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia, representing the colors of the pride flag and visited iconic sites in Russia. This brave step led to much praise and applaud from other Twitter users and netizens couldn’t stop cheering for them.
Check out some of the reactions here:
