Culture

Rammstein share same-sex kiss on stage in Russia to protest homophobia

By Daniel Megarry

31st July 2019

YouTube

Rammstein are showing their true colours as LGBTQ allies.

Two members of the German heavy metal band, guitarists Paul Landers and Richard Kruspe, shared a kiss on stage during a performance in Russia’s capital city Moscow to protest the country’s anti-LGBTQ attitudes and laws.

While homosexuality isn’t illegal in Russia, President Vladimir Putin’s ‘gay propaganda’ law has created a hostile environment for LGBTQ people. A prominent LGBTQ activist was recently murdered after her name was listed on a vile ‘gay-hunting’ website.

Elsewhere, in self-governed Russian state Chechnya, gay people have been rounded up and held in modern-day concentration camps, with many of them tortured for information and some even beaten to death.

Rammstein shared a photo of the kiss, which took place during their song Aüslander, on their Instagram page alongside the caption: “Russia, we love you!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0jJQnBgy0K/

It’s not the first time the band have shown support for LGBTQ rights on this tour – during a performance in Poland, the band waved rainbow Pride flags as they crowd-surfed in a rubber dinghy.

The bold statement came after reports that members of Poland’s LGBTQ community had faced violence during a Pride march in the country, as well as reports of ‘LGBT-free’ zones being promoted by bigots.

Rammstein’s show of support for LGBTQ people has gone down very well with fans of the band.