Hosts of this year’s World Cup, Russia, is one of the most homophobic countries in the world. The simple act of carrying a rainbow flag can be punishable with a prison sentence.
This has meant that may LGBT+ football fans have either had to hide their sexuality while attending the World Cup with some deciding to not attend at all.
A new group called The Hidden Flag has come up with an ingenious way of displaying the rainbow flag while attending the World Cup.
The six activists resorted to wearing uniforms from their countries’ football teams, turning themselves into the flag and they walked around Moscow with pride.
They released a statement on their website:
“When Gilbert Baker designed the rainbow flag in 1978, he did so to create a symbol and an icon for the LGTB 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.
“Because of this, we have taken advantage of the fact the country is hosting the World Cup at the same time as Pride Month, to denounce their behaviour and take the rainbow flag to the streets of Russia.
“Yes, in the plain light of day, in front of the Russian authorities, Russian society and the whole world, we wave the flag with pride.
“How? In a way that no one would ever suspect. Football shirts.
“Spain, The Netherlands, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia. Six countries. Six brave LGBT activists, that together, form the flag that toured around iconic sites in Russia, travelling to every corner to fight against a struggle that will never be silenced.”
The striking images have become a big hit online with support for the campaign going viral.
Love what these these brave #activists did in #Russia at the #WorldCup
Wearing shirts of their native teams, they turned themselves into a #LGBTQ #rainbow #flag
(displaying the LGBT flag in public can get you arrested) & walked around moscow with pride ?️? #TheHiddenFlag pic.twitter.com/lKt3C5I65y— Omar Kuddus (@OmarKuddus) July 8, 2018
In Russia, gay propaganda including the rainbow #LGBTQ flag is illegal. To protest the country’s homophobic discrimination, six activists from @FELGTB showed their pride in plain sight, with soccer jerseys. #thehiddenflag pic.twitter.com/PEQSSyisas
— billboard pride (@BillboardPride) July 9, 2018
The group have also released a video about showing their pride, watch below:
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