We are proud to share this international interview featuring our founder, Petter Wallenberg where his personal journey as a queer artist and activist is closely connected to the work for LGBTQ+ rights, often under extremely challenging conditions. ![]()
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In this video you can see rare footage of some of the most dramatic incidents that have taken place during Rainbow Riots ten years in Uganda, such as when Wallenberg and our Ugandan team were held hostage during a violent police raid of Pride Uganda. ![]()
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The message that runs through the interview is clear: keep dancing, even when they throw stones. 🌈
They May Throw Stones at Me, But I’ll Keep Dancing | Story of Swedish Queer Activist
youtu.be
In this episode of 1001Lives, Swedish artist, musician, writer, and LGBTQ+ activist Petter Wallenberg shares his powerful journey.From expressing himself as ...
Yesterday, on Holocaust Remembrance Day, our founder Petter Wallenberg held a seminar for decision makers in Sweden to honour the often-forgotten LGBTQ victims of the Holocaust.![]()
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Hundreds of thousands of gay men were imprisoned, tortured, and murdered. Forced to wear pink triangles. Treated as less than human.![]()
After the war, they received no apology or recognition — many were imprisoned again.![]()
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Today, LGBTQ+ hatred is rising again.![]()
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We’ve seen this before.![]()
We know where it leads.![]()
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Remember. Speak up. Stop hate before history repeats itself. 🕯️🏳️🌈
Happy New Year, everyone! 🎉![]()
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2025 has been an incredible year for Rainbow Riots! We proudly celebrated a decade of work in Uganda—one of the world’s most challenging environments for queer people. 💕![]()
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Our key achievements include:![]()
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-Conducting vital legal workshops that empower LGBT Ugandans to navigate and avoid victimization under the country’s anti-gay legislation.![]()
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-Collaborating on a dynamic exchange program involving a major London university and Swedish high schools.![]()
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A highlight was our founding director, Swedish artist Petter Wallenberg international music collaboration: ![]()
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The project united Ugandan LGBTQ+ voices with US drag legend Lady Bunny on a powerful track, ”My love is the way it is supposed to be.”![]()
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Launched during World Pride 2025 in Washington, D.C., and showcased by the Embassy of Sweden, the song was hailed as a ”fabulous WorldPride anthem” by Attitude magazine. ![]()
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We were also honored to win the ”World Pride Impact Rainbow Advocacy 2025 Award” from Our Pride (USA)!![]()
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Thank you for all your support! 🩷![]()
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Here’s to even more impact in 2026!🥳🥳🎉🎉![]()
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#rainbowriots #lgbt #lgbtq #gay #pride #lgbtqrights #petterwallenberg
We are so thrilled to reveal that we have won a WorldPride Impact award from Rainbow Advocacy and the Charter for Compassion! ![]()
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The award is for our collaboration between the Ugandan LGBTQ+ community, our founder, Swedish artist and activist Petter Wallenberg and American drag superstar Lady Bunny on the WorldPride 2025 anthem ”My love (is the way it is supposed to be)” ![]()
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This recognition is wonderful and a great compliment to the work we do as Rainbow Riots joining together LGBTQ + communities across the world to make a change. The award gives a very important and much needed sense of pride to one of the most marginalised communities. ![]()
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As one of our members in Uganda, where it is illegal to be LGBT, puts it: ![]()
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”This project gave me a platform to express my identity openly and safely. It strengthened my confidence, self-worth, and visibility as a trans woman. It was also healing and empowering to transform my lived experiences into art that others could connect with. It also built solidarity among LGBTQ+ people while showing the wider public that our voices, struggles, and creativity matter."![]()
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The project was funded by Svenska institutet
Wow! Our latest song, ”My Love (is the way it’s supposed to be),” by Petter Wallenberg featuring Lady Bunny and Rainbow Riots Uganda, has been chosen for a flash mob performance in New York! 🌟✨ Such a beautiful honor to see our music come to life in this way. 🩷🩷![]()
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This song features queer artists from 3 countries, including Uganda—where being LGBT is still illegal. 💙🏳️🌈 It’s so inspiring to see our message of love crossing borders and breaking barriers for freedom and acceptance! 🌍✊ ![]()
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Thank you Stories for Freedom and TMI project!![]()
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With funding from Svenska institutet
