While we enjoy days of celebrations during Pride parades this summer, we must remember that the fight far far from over for many LGBTQ people across the world.
International LGBTQ right organisation Rainbow Riots have announced plans to launch a 10-part podcast series on 30 May, which will explore the fight for equality from different parts of the globe.
The weekly web series will include queer stories, culture and history from different nations, mixing it with investigative journalism, spoken poetry and specially composed music.
Rainbow Riots Radio was created and will be hosted by Swedish artist and activist Petter Wallenberg.
“This is both a radio show and a musical collaboration with some of the people I have met during my travels to fight for LGBT rights worldwide,” Petter explained.
“Danger, drama and resilience – it’s all here. Rainbow Riots Radio connects our queer stories across continents and cultures and gives voice to those who are often silenced.”
The first episode features an interview with 73-year-old gay historian and author Lars Fimmerstad, who speaks about his experiences through the modern Gay Liberation movement and the AIDS crisis in the 80s.
The rest of the series will include a number of stories that rarely makes it into the mainstream media, including Africa’s first openly gay reverend, Aboriginal drag queens from Australia, and Uganda’s brave queer community where the fight for equal rights is incredibly challenging.
Last year, LGBTQ artists from some of the world’s most dangerous countries to be gay contributed songs to the Rainbow Riots album in support of the global fight for LGBTQ equality.
Rainbow Riots features a number of LGBTQ voices from countries where being gay is still punishable, including Uganda, Malawi and Jamaica.
Related: Listen to Rainbow Riots song Equal Rights to help fight for global LGBT+ equality
Petter headed up the project, which developed from a protest against the booking of Jamaican musician Sizzla in Stockholm in 2012, whose song’s lyrics incite the murder of gay people.
He then brought together many artists involved in the album for a special performance at Stockholm Pride last August, which marked the first time some of them performed outside of their home country.
All profits from the sale of Rainbow Riots’ album – which is available to download now – go to the charity, and fighting for global LGBTQ equality.
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