Rainbow Riots is a non-profit organisation that uses arts and culture to advocate for human rights for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people around the world. Our creative projects often take place in countries where it is illegal or dangerous to be LGBTQ. Rainbow Riots was founded in 2012 by Petter Wallenberg, a Swedish artist, musician, author and human rights activist, who envisioned collaborating with other members of the LGBTQ community all over the world to advocate for equality. The organisation Rainbow Riots is registered both in Sweden and Uganda.
There are more than a hundred million people living in countries where being LGBTQ is punishable, sometimes by death. The core mission of Rainbow Riots is to change this, by fighting hatred with creativity.
Over the years Rainbow Riots has grown into a multinational organisation and creative collective behind a string of high profile international projects, several of which have become milestones in the fight for equality:
In 2022 we released the single ‘We Don't Care’ - the first ever song with a World Pride theme to protest against hatred towards LGBT people. It is composed and produced by Swedish gay artist Petter Wallenberg and features queer singers from four continents, including countries where same sex relations are illegal, all on the same track. All proceeds from the music sales are donated to the victims of the Oslo Pride attack.
In 2019 we opened Uganda's first LGBTQ community centre. In Uganda it is illegal to LGBTQ so the centre was a safe space where the Ugandan LGBT community could find solace from discrimination and engage in creative and community building activities.
Also in 2019 we created the music album ’Rainbow Riots India’ in collaboration with India’s first openly LGBTQ singers and dancers. Our music premiered at India’s first legal Pride festival and was declared ”India’s first Pride anthem” by Indian media. We created a campaign for LGBTQ+ rights launched to millions across India, as part of the Indian LGBTQ+-movement that achieved the historic victory of legalizing same sex relations in India - possibly the biggest victories for human rights in our time.
In 2018 we launched ’Rainbow Riots Radio’, a web radio series of queer stories from around the world that mixes investigative journalism, spoken word poetry and music especially composed by queer artists.
In 2017 we created the music album ’Rainbow Riots’, which featured queer voices from the world’s most dangerous countries for LGBTQ people, featuring campaigns, videos and documentaries. The album was championed by the BBC, who called it ”the ultimate protest”, and by Dazed Digital, who called it ”the zenith of international queer activism.”
The same year we created the song ’Equal Rights’, an official campaign for the United Nations’ Global Goals.
Since 2012 we have run Rainbow Riots Forum on Facebook, a space where people from all over the world can share and discuss LGBTQ-related issues and topics.
Music, films and stage performances by Rainbow Riots have been featured at leading Pride and LGBTQ-related events around the world, including EuroPride (Sweden), Sydney Mardi Gras (Australia), Mumbai Pride (India), Pride Uganda (Uganda), CINEMQ (China), Kashish Queer Film Festival (India), Stockholm Pride (Sweden) and Hamburg Pride (Germany).
Over the years Rainbow Riots has grown into a multinational organisation and creative collective behind a string of high profile international projects, several of which have become milestones in the fight for equality:
In 2022 we released the single ‘We Don't Care’ - the first ever song with a World Pride theme to protest against hatred towards LGBT people. It is composed and produced by Swedish gay artist Petter Wallenberg and features queer singers from four continents, including countries where same sex relations are illegal, all on the same track. All proceeds from the music sales are donated to the victims of the Oslo Pride attack.
In 2019 we opened Uganda's first LGBTQ community centre. In Uganda it is illegal to LGBTQ so the centre was a safe space where the Ugandan LGBT community could find solace from discrimination and engage in creative and community building activities.
Also in 2019 we created the music album ’Rainbow Riots India’ in collaboration with India’s first openly LGBTQ singers and dancers. Our music premiered at India’s first legal Pride festival and was declared ”India’s first Pride anthem” by Indian media. We created a campaign for LGBTQ+ rights launched to millions across India, as part of the Indian LGBTQ+-movement that achieved the historic victory of legalizing same sex relations in India - possibly the biggest victories for human rights in our time.
In 2018 we launched ’Rainbow Riots Radio’, a web radio series of queer stories from around the world that mixes investigative journalism, spoken word poetry and music especially composed by queer artists.
In 2017 we created the music album ’Rainbow Riots’, which featured queer voices from the world’s most dangerous countries for LGBTQ people, featuring campaigns, videos and documentaries. The album was championed by the BBC, who called it ”the ultimate protest”, and by Dazed Digital, who called it ”the zenith of international queer activism.”
The same year we created the song ’Equal Rights’, an official campaign for the United Nations’ Global Goals.
Since 2012 we have run Rainbow Riots Forum on Facebook, a space where people from all over the world can share and discuss LGBTQ-related issues and topics.
Music, films and stage performances by Rainbow Riots have been featured at leading Pride and LGBTQ-related events around the world, including EuroPride (Sweden), Sydney Mardi Gras (Australia), Mumbai Pride (India), Pride Uganda (Uganda), CINEMQ (China), Kashish Queer Film Festival (India), Stockholm Pride (Sweden) and Hamburg Pride (Germany).
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Rainbow Riots - Rainbow Riots The album Rainbow Riots is composed and produced by Petter Wallenberg and features queer voices from some of the world’s most dangerous countries for LGBTQ people, such as Uganda, Jamaica, South Africa and Malawi. All proceeds go towards fighting inequalities towards LGBTQ people worldwide. |
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Equal Rights - Rainbow Riots “Equal Rights” is the new single composed and produced by Petter Wallenberg as part of an official campaign for the UN‘s Global Goals For Sustainable Development. On the mic is Jamaican rapper and gay rights activist Mista Majah P and the message is clear – equal rights for LGBTQ people globally now! “Equal Rights” is the first single from the album Rainbow Riots which is released June 16th, and is composed and produced by Petter Wallenberg and featuring queer voices from some of the worlds most dangerous countries for LGBTQ people. |
Videos
I'm Coming Out - Petter Wallenberg & Rainbow Riots feat. Sushant Divgikar & Rainbow Voices Mumbai
Petter Wallenberg & Rainbow Riots - "Love is Love" feat Sushant Divgikar
Rainbow Riots - Unmask
Rainbow Riots - Set Me Free ft. Kowa Tigs and D Black
Rainbow Riots - Freedom
Rainbow Riots - Equal Rights
