Eurovision has long been a sanctuary for the queer community – but this year the sparkle dimmed. Flags were banned, boos echoed through the area and the audience was left to realise that the glittering stage has never been apolitical, with everyone watching with raised eyebrows from every corner of Europe.
Protestors march against Israel’s inclusion in Eurovision 2025.
Dubbed the “gay world cup,” Eurovision once held a special place in the hearts of the LGBTQ+ community – a campy, glitter-encrusted beacon of joy, a celebration of everything queer.
But this year, as the song contest hit Basel, in Switzerland, for 2025, a string of controversies surrounding the event cast a shadow over the stage lights. From Israel’s inclusion to the banning of pride flags, it has left serious questions about the show’s commitment to inclusivity, expression, and the LGBTQ+ audiences who’ve helped keep the event and its spirit alive.
See No Rainbow, Speak No Rainbow: The Flag Ban
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the body that runs Eurovision, quietly updated its flag policy in April – a change that reads like a gut punch to many LGBTQ+ supporters. Contestants and their delegations were forbidden to carry any flag other than their own country’s at official events. With no queer symbolism, the public couldn’t help but feel this is like shoving their proud supporters back into the proverbial closet.
Director Martin Green’s official line was you only have to “see the people that are taking part, hear what they are singing about” to know that the contest stands with the community – that same old rhetoric of ‘trust us we are gay friendly, just leave your pride flag at the door.’
That justification rang hollow for many. The Pink Cross, a Swiss LGBTQ+ rights group, blasted the flag ban as “a slap in the face.” 2024 Eurovision winner Nemo expressed his confusion and sadness about the decision in an interview, stating, “It has to make sense. You can’t be known for being the queerest thing in Europe basically, and then be like, ‘We don’t allow Pride flags.’ It just doesn’t make sense to me, especially in this time.”
The rule was ostensibly to keep politics out of the contest, limiting performers to displaying only national symbols. But to queer fans and performers, it treads much closer to erasure.
Occupied Airwaves – Why is Israel Still Singing?
Israel’s inclusion in this year’s contest poured petrol on an already blazing bonfire of controversy. As the country’s military campaign in Gaza escalated, critics across Europe asked: why is Eurovision giving Israel a stage when it barred Russia for invading Ukraine?
Yuval Raphael, Israel’s contestant, is a survivor of the Nova music festival attack by Hamas. Her entry, ‘New Day Will Rise’, was framed as a message of resilience. But for many, the optics didn’t land. More than 70 former Eurovision contestants signed an open letter calling for Israel’s exclusion, including 2024 winner Nemo.
Even Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez publicly said Israel shouldn’t compete in cultural events during an active conflict. The EBU threatened sanctions. Freedom of expression? Not today.
On stage, the situation boiled over. Protesters threw red paint during Israel’s final performance, hitting a crew member and bringing security racing in. Boos in the arena were allegedly muted during the live broadcast, prompting fresh accusations of censorship.
And then came Bambie Thug. The Irish finalist, who is non-binary, revealed they were told to remove the words “Ceasefire Now” and “Free Palestine” from their stage outfit.
Camp, Culture, and The Cost of Silence
This isn’t just about one flag or one country. It’s about the kind of space Eurovision claims to be. For decades, it has been a place where queer people could see themselves celebrated, not censored. A place for joy, self-expression, drama, and community. But 2025 didn’t feel like that. It felt like the queerness had been sanitised. The politics, ignored. The love, conditional.
Eurovision has always been more than a song contest. It’s a mirror of Europe. Its dreams, its flaws, its future. And this year, the reflection wasn’t as flattering.
Final Note: Do Better Eurovision
The LGBTQ+ community has long championed Eurovision. We danced when Dana International won. We screamed for Conchita. We cried when Nemo lifted that trophy. But this year, the contest felt less like a celebration and more like a don’t ask, don’t tell dinner party.
If Eurovision wants to keep calling itself a safe space, it needs to act like one. That means lifting the flag ban, holding all participants to consistent standards, and actually listening to the queer community it so often relies on for its sparkle.
Because let’s be real: without the queers, Eurovision wouldn’t be the gay World Cup. It’d just be karaoke in sequins.
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