The Eurovision Song Contest bans performers from displaying pride, trance, and non-binary flags on concert stages.
However, it eases restrictions on the audience’s ability to waving political or identity-related flags.
The International Music Contest’s updated policy specifies that all flags and banners are permitted at upcoming events in Basel, Switzerland from May 13th to 17th, unless these flags pose a safety risk and break Swiss laws.
Examples of flag types that may violate this provision include racist, offensive, honourable, or discriminatory content, symbols that incite hatred or violence, or symbols that represent prohibited terrorist organizations.
However, this policy requires performers and their delegates to be able to display only one national flag when they are in “official spaces,” including concert stages, green rooms, Eurovision Village stages, and turquoise carpets at opening ceremonies.
During the flag parade, there is only one official flag provided by the Swiss Broadcasting Station, the host station of the Swiss Broadcasting Station. Displayed by performers.
This means that LGBTQ performers cannot display pride-themed flags.
It also means performers cannot display flags of other countries or territories in solidarity, such as the Palestinian flag or the Ukrainian flag.
A spokesperson for the Eurovision Song Contest said the flag ban on performers was developed by the Swiss broadcaster in view of the Eurovision Broadcasting Union.
The policy is intended to “balance the audience and artists to express their enthusiasm and identity, but at the same time, it is intended to make the delegation more clear when it comes to official spaces.”
The spokesman defended the ban, noting that there are other opportunities for people to express pride in their identity and to make political statements.
Country delegations and performers may face “consequences” if they violate their policies.
It is unclear what those results are.
The flag ban underscores the conflict between maintaining political neutrality and the ability of artists to freely express themselves and make statements about current events.
Over the past few years, several artists have been raising pride or trans flags during flag parades, including the S10, Dutch singer-rapper, Australia’s Sheldon Riley, and Iceland’s Systur band.
Swiss Nemo, who won last year’s contest, said that after saying Eurovision would not be allowed, he would have to smuggle it into the non-binary flags he displayed on stage.
Last year’s Eurovision Contest was hidden by massive pro-Palestinian protests calling for Israel to be banned from competing, as it is estimated that a military campaign in the Gaza Strip led to Israeli deaths of more than 51,000 people.
The campaign was launched in response to a Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023, killing nearly 1,200 people and seeing more than 250 people captured by Palestinian nationalist Islamist terrorists.
Eurovision temporarily banned performances last year by Israel as its song choice broke rules regarding political neutrality by including lyrics that reference Hamas-led attacks. The ban was lifted after Israel changed the lyrics and title.
Russia was banned in 2022 following the Ukrainian invasion and has not returned to competition for the next few years.
The ban on pride flags on the official concert stages inflamed tension and sparked anger from LGBTQ supporters.
Maria Sjödin, executive director of LGBTQ advocacy group Attright International, said Eurovision “has been an important space for the LGBTIQ community for a long time,” saying “both artists and audiences should be free to celebrate it.”
“Restricting expressions of support for equality — through flags, colours and words — undermine the spirit of diversity, creativity and the free thriving Eurovision,” Shadine said.
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
