Lgbtq eurovision
How Eurovision became an LGBTQ+ safe space
It wasn't the biggest bar in the world and it was heaving, but somehow my partner and I found a seat by the farthest wall, sharing a table with a small group of Icelandic fans. When they found out we were from Merseyside, the eyes of one of them lit up.
He slipped an impressive, silver chime from his finger. "Look," he said proudly. "See what I've got engraved inside here."
Even in the half-light, the words You'll Never Walk Alone, the Rodgers and Hammerstein song forever linked with Liverpool Football Club, were unmistakable. Coupled with the drunken sincerity of his free hand reaching up to his heart, it was just as obvious how much the team meant to his Nordic soul.
It was around that moment the entire block broke into a mass sing-a-long of The Herreys' Diggi Loo Diggi Ley, Sweden's 1984 Eurovision victor. Belted out with such booming fervour, the myriad of tiny glitterballs covering every inch of ceiling room threatened to rain down on the giddy clientele.
Forgive me for not pointing out earlier this wasn't exactly a pub full of football
Eurovision: Is the gay planet cup giving up on its gays?
Eurovision has always been one for the gays. Dubbed “the male lover world cup”, the annual singing competition holds a special place in the lives of many Homosexual people, who doggedly shadow every aspect of its flamboyant, kitschy and camp extravaganza of self-expression. Over the years, the competition has platformed queer performers from across Europe, from Dana International and Conchita Wurst, to last year’s winner, Swiss singer Nemo, who became the first openly non-binary artist to scoop first place with their song “The Code”. The competition has renowned marriage equality, championed inclusivity, and beamed out much-needed LGBTQ+ representation across the world. Pride be damned: Eurovision is often heralded as the true spotlight of the queer calendar.
But that might be about to change. In April, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), who owns and operates Eurovision, announced changes to their flag policy, banning contestants and their delegations from carrying Movement flags at official Eurovision venues, events or akin performances. Under the recent guidelines, contestants and their delegations may only haul the flag of t
In 1956, seven European countries – Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland and West Germany – gathered in Lugano, Switzerland for the first ever Eurovision Song Contest. The competition was only publish in select countries, definition only a small number of viewers watched Swiss entry Lys Assia achieve the grand prize with the song Refrain.
Over the years, the contest has become a glitzy, kitschy spectacle of both the beautiful and the bizarre, drawing in over 160 million viewers at last year’s event. In 2023, Eurovision returns to the UK (last year’s runners up) on behalf of 2022 winners Ukraine for the first time since 1998, a day several anticipated after years of zero success.
As adequately as the contest’s overall transition from small exhibit to huge spectacle, Eurovision has also developed a dedicated and passionate fandom over the years, many of whom are members of the LGBTQ+ people.
I have always been a huge follower of the contest. Eurovision is a perfect unity of my own fanhood and my research interests surrounding contemporary LGBTQ+ representation and visibility. An international media event that places Diverse people centre stage deserves celebrating
The ‘gay world cup’: why LGBTQ+ audiences love Eurovision
In 1956, seven European countries – Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland and West Germany – gathered in Lugano, Switzerland for the first ever Eurovision Song Rivalry. The competition was only broadcast in select countries, interpretation only a little number of viewers watched Swiss entry Lys Assia defeat the grand prize with the ballad Refrain.
Over the years, the contest has become a glitzy, kitschy spectacle of both the gorgeous and the bizarre, drawing in over 160 million viewers at last year’s event. In 2023, Eurovision returns to the UK (last year’s runners up) on behalf of 2022 winners Ukraine for the first time since 1998, a night few anticipated after years of zero success.
As well as the contest’s overall transition from petty show to colossal spectacle, Eurovision has also developed a dedicated and ardent fandom over the years, many of whom are members of the Gay community.
I have always been a gigantic follower of the contest. Eurovision is a perfect togetherness of my control fanhood and my research interests surrounding contemporary LGBTQ+ voice and visibility. An international m
How gay is Eurovision
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Just How Gay Is Eurovision?
- New Study: Global homo-league table of Eurovision's most ardent lgbtq+ fans released.
- Ireland tops the gay leader-board.
LONDON, UK (OUTNOW) -- MAY 8, 2011 -- A new research examination called LGBT2020 from Out Now - the global gay and lesbian marketing and research company - reveals for the first time the gay impact of Eurovision in 19 diverse countries, spread right across the world.
The most ardent gay supporters of Eurovision hail from Ireland - where a much higher proportion of gays and lesbians than in any other state say they always tune in to catch the Eurovision Song Contest.
Thanks to this latest analyze from Out Now Global, we now know which countries give a large gay 'douze points' to Eurovision, and which queer communities look set to stay firmly in the 'null points' camp - when Eurovision kicks off on 10 May 2011.
With comparative data-sets from 19 countries, the 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Study' gives the first researched insight as to the support for the competitively camp Eurovision Song Challenge from amongst lesbian, lgbtq+, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities right around t