They sparked controversy in Tel Aviv last May when they waved the Palestinian flag. Now, Hatari are proudly expressing their opinions on behalf of the LGBTQ community in Russia. On Saturday, the provocative Icelandic techno band performed their ESC 2019 song “Hatrið mun sigra” in Moscow, with dancer Andrean Sigurgeirsson unfurling his rainbow-coloured wings to the Russian crowd.

The wings

Designed by Alexía Rós Gylfadóttir and Haraldur Levi, the wings weren’t only a fashion statement. They were a true political statement against the anti-LGBT policies of the Slavic nation. In 2013, Russia introduced a law that prohibited exposing minors to so-called “gay propaganda”. As well, Amnesty International has criticised the Russian government for its lack of action against Chechnya’s persecution of LGBT people.

But Hatari wouldn’t perform in the country without leaving their mark. At last show of the first leg of their extensive Europe Will Crumble tour, Hatari’s dancer Andrean Sigurgeirsson spread his feathered rainbow wings and the message on behalf of the country’s queer community.

The aftermath

After the show, Andrean took to social media to thank the people behind the action. He also told the story of the LGBT community’s oppression in Russia, raising awareness of the issue.

View this post on Instagram

Our existence is a reality Russian “gay propaganda laws” of 2013 punishes and bans the promotion of non-traditional relations to minors. The law is disguised as a way to protect children but what it actually does is that it increases the stigmatization of LGBTQ+ people in society. The law violates people’s rights to freedom of speech, and the law effectively bans all public demonstrations or events speaking in favour of LGBT rights. Many important LGBTQ+ support networks have been banned on the internet because of this law. Gay pride parades are met with much resistance by local authorities across Russia, On April 2017 Checnyan (Russian) authorities began an anti-LGBTQ+ purge where 100 men were arrested and tortured for being gay, many were murdered. In 2019, 40 LGBTQ+ men and women were arrested and tortured in another purge. Russian authorities do not care about queer people, they actively try to harm, torture and murder LGBTQ+ people in Russia. The Russian President, Government and police give a silent consent to these crimes. LGBTQ+ people live in fear as they are being discriminated against and attacks on queer people often go unreported by Police. Politicians and LGBT rights activists are murdered in Russia, advocates risk their lives and often lose them trying to improve LGBT peoples’ lives in Russia. This is for you, the brave, beautiful and kind-hearted human beings who are LGBTQ+ in Russia. Thank you for sharing your stories with me and I hope one day that Russia will rise from their hate and learn that love is simply love. Thanks to @alexiarosg and @haraldurlevy who helped me create the wings ? ?@vitadminka

A post shared by Andrean Sigurgeirsson (@ssandrean) on

“Our existence is a reality”, the Icelander then wrote on Instagram. “Russian ‘gay propaganda laws’ of 2013 punishes and bans the promotion of non-traditional relations to minors. The law is disguised as a way to protect children but what it actually does is that it increases the stigmatization of LGBTQ+ people in society.”

The Hatari dancer then listed facts about the country’s ill-treatment of its queer citizens. From the resistance against gay parades throughout the country to the “purges” against LGBT people that took place in Chechnya in 2017 and 2019, the dancer reminded his Instagram followers well how terrible the situation in Russia is these days.

Andrean signed off with an empowering message and a dedication to the people who needed support most. “This is for you, the brave, beautiful and kind-hearted human beings who are LGBTQ+ in Russia. Thank you for sharing your stories with me and I hope one day that Russia will rise from their hate and learn that love is simply love.”

Hatari’s Europe Will Crumble tour will continue in January 2020.

What do you think? Did Hatari make a statement with their rainbow wings? Sound off in the comments below!

Read more Iceland Eurovision news here

29 Comments
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kksena2
kksena2
4 years ago

What a talented, intelligent and brave bunch of people! They are more than band, more than musicians, more than theatrical aesthetically pleasing art performance group. They are state of mind to say the least. i love them for who they are and for everything they do.

Sal
Sal
4 years ago

Urgh not these cishet white saviours again. Bet they wouldn’t have dared to wave that flag in a certain place in the Middle East that they so ignorantly support

Bella
Bella
4 years ago
Reply to  Sal

FYI – They collaborated with Palestinian artist Bashar Murad (who is LGBT) and did shoot the video in Palestine. Also, Russia is not exactly known for being supportive of LGBT rights, and Hatari did raise the flag there. 😉

Bella
Bella
4 years ago
Reply to  Sal

FYI – They collaborated with Palest inian artist Bashar Murad (who is LGBT) and did shoot the video in Palest ine. Also, Russia is not exactly known for being supportive of LGBT rights, and Hatari did raise the flag there.

Chris
Chris
4 years ago
Reply to  Bella

Got there before I could Bella!

Whyme
Whyme
4 years ago
Reply to  Sal

The guy with the wings isn’t heterosexual and is half-Indonesian and Hatari are going to Palestine in February

Pablo
Pablo
4 years ago
Reply to  Sal

Funny you’d say that. The only place where Hatari got threatened for raising a flag is Israel, and the video is available on Twitter for all to see.

Tusán
4 years ago
Reply to  Sal

And stop with the racist bullsh.t too.

Bella
Bella
4 years ago

These guys are KINGS, I still listen to Klefi and Hatrid Mun Sigra. Wonder if someone came to threaten them backstage and order them to “give back the flag”, like what happened in Israel.

JJ Abrahames
JJ Abrahames
4 years ago
Reply to  Bella

no, nobody was against it at concert, Israel is far worse then Russia, even Iceland”s councilor with her husband were at concert to support them

Johanna
Johanna
4 years ago

They are heroes and I love them. Both as humans and artists !!

Thomas
Thomas
4 years ago

To quote Divina De Campo “Your belief is yours but my existence is reality.”

NickC
NickC
4 years ago

They can show equal amount of empathy for all oppressed communities.
They will always be my winners from 2019.

Julia
Julia
4 years ago

I was at this gig in Moscow, I’m so love and proud of them, thousand people in the hall screamed and rejoiced when Andrean unfurled his wings. Their attention and support are VERY important to russian LGBTQ+ community. It was so legendary, we are cried (I’m not joking). Hatari deserve only love, respect and pride.

Gilad
Gilad
4 years ago

I will be honest this group is no art no music just want attention this is absolutely disgusting! They hate to everything that dam existing in this world!

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
4 years ago
Reply to  Gilad

mmmmm found the cishet

JJ Abrahames
JJ Abrahames
4 years ago
Reply to  Gilad

nope, they hate only you

Anna
Anna
4 years ago

I think more artists should take a stand! I mean they are the ones that actually can make headlines doing it, while ordinary people gets arrested and killed 🙁 It is really important to fight for your rights, to be yourself. No one can choose to be gay or straight, you just are what you are regardless. I hate when those who can do something, don’t do it and point finger to others artists that do and say “Well you should respect the countries laws bla bla bla..” .yeah you should but not when the country is oppressing its own… Read more »

Riq
Riq
4 years ago

Being a part of LGBT+ -community, i think it’s our right to be loud about it. To make a change. There’s still about 70 countries in the world, that criminalizes being gay. And i think being true to yourself, loving whoever you want, is a human right. Stop criminalizing love!

Azuro
Azuro
4 years ago

now this is a good form of protest to make. Protesting actual oppression, not protesting the only liberal democracy in the middle east and visiting terrorist occupied territories relying on the protection of the police force of the aforementioned democratic state.

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
4 years ago
Reply to  Azuro

I’m sorry, but EVERY country has oppression and Israel is not exempt. No place is perfect.

marianne
marianne
4 years ago

True, but targeting one country, stinks! I didn’t see them raising the Ukrainian flag in a protest to what happened in Crimea while performing in Russia…that’s hypocrisy, not genuine protest.

U.A.
U.A.
4 years ago
Reply to  marianne

So, really, why did they even agree to perform in Russia taking into account Russia invaded Ukraine and annexed Crimea?

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago

kings ! unfortunately ignorance is still rampant on lgbt issues, good to know there are woke ppl everywhere

Dawid
Dawid
4 years ago

In Poland they called it “the rainbow disease” recently. Exactly same excuse – “its dangerous to children”. We’re not arrested yet though.

aaa
aaa
4 years ago
Reply to  Dawid

Saying THEY you meant probably ONE person who used “the rainbow disease” and his words were just copied by some media.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago
Reply to  aaa

poland has a ‘right-wing to far-right’ majority in its government, unfortunately issa THEY

Dawid
Dawid
4 years ago
Reply to  aaa

I’m talking about some archbishop who started it to cover up talking about pedophilia in polish Church. Thing is noone in power tried to disagree with him and moreover, they added “fight with LGBT propaganda” as one of their points in their program in last elections (they won).

Danni
Danni
4 years ago

I completely forget that there are countries where homosexuality and spreading ‘gay propaganda’ are criminal offences. It is absolutely awful and I hate myself for forgetting it. I take it for granted here in Australia and I guess it’s just so hard to believe that being LGBT+ could get you killed in some places. It’s awful. Disgusting. Thank you, Hatari, for reminding us and trying to make a difference in this nation… I just want the situation to stop somehow. I wish I could help. It makes me immeasurably sad thinking about it.