‘RAINBOW RIOTS RADIO’ - QUEER STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
International LGBTQ rights organisation Rainbow Riots launched bi-weekly web radio series ‘Rainbow Riots Radio’ on May 30th. The podcast features ten unique shows exploring queer stories, culture and history from around the world. Each episode mixes engaging stories, investigative journalism, and spoken word poetry, backed by specially composed music.
The series is created and presented by Rainbow Riots’ founder, the Swedish artist and activist Petter Wallenberg, who also composed all of the music for the series in conjunction with some of his guests
The series has already sparked controversy, after an advert for episode one was banned by Facebook for being ”too political”.
Speaking of the recent Facebook intervention, Wallenberg said: ”I created Rainbow Riots Radio because I wanted to share our queer life stories around the world. Some of the episodes feature queer people in countries where it is illegal to be gay. Even if we just want to live our lives like everybody else, it becomes political. When two straight people hold hands in the street it’s viewed as personal - when queer people do it, it’s viewed as political. When we come out of the shadows and tell our stories globally - it’s too political.”
We didn’t choose to be political, we just want to live our lives. We want love just like everyone else. It’s the homophobia that makes it political.”
As the series continues, with a new episode every fortnight, the listener will hear stories often untold in mainstream media. From divine transgenders on the streets of Bombay, to Aboriginal drag queens in Australia, Africa's first openly gay reverend, to queer bondage girls in Berlin. Petter will also introduce Ugandan’s brave queer community, Dykes on bikes in 80’s Sydney and the Jamaican rapper and gay activist with a bounty on his head.
The stories and interviews are all uniquely told with the help of musical collaborations that Petter has made with the guests, in which song, rap and poetry form a musical weapon against oppression. The whole soundtrack is original music created by Petter and his queer artist collective Rainbow Riots.
Petter Wallenberg said: “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. 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.”