Eurovision and Catalonia's LGBTQ+ community: a defining yet delicate match 

Apart from music, the Eurovision Song Contest is renowned for its glitter and soft politics. Yet, the contest has an important connection with another aspect of society: the LGBTQ+ community.  

At times it even seems like all the extravaganza is what matters most: outlandish and amazing costumes, blinding stage lights, feathers everywhere, and notes so high only dogs can hear them.  

Though another side of Eurovision highlights a more introverted aspect of the show’s personality: one spotlight, a stripped back sound, and sweet ballads can feel like a much-needed deep amid an explosion of creative expression. 

These extremes (and everything in between) make the Eurovision Song Contest a well-mixed cocktail to cater a wide audience of eurofans. But an important group amongst them that seems to fully immerse themselves in the thrill of it all is the LGBTQ+ community.  

In Catalonia's queer community, Eurovision is widely celebrated. "There is a huge Eurovision fan base here," Alex Marteen, a drag artist from Barcelona, told Catalan News. Marteen, who has also worked for Eurovision as a performer and DJ has been part of the Eurovision family for a few years now. "For many people, Eurovision is a place of belonging. Some people, who cannot seem to find their place in the gay community, do find it at Eurovision." 

The connection between the LGBTQ+ community and Eurovision didn’t appear overnight, it has been steadily built over decades. In recent years, Eurovision has grown into a place of safety and representation for the community, offering queer artists a platform such as last year's winner Nemo, who became the first openly non-binary contestant.  

Going back in time, around the start of the 2010s, the contest proved itself to be a vital representation of the LGBTQ+ community. When Austria’s Conchita Wurst won the contest with "Rise Like a Phoenix" in 2014, it was received as a victory for the broader community, as it came less than a year after Vladimir Putin passed a law banning children in Russia from learning about homosexuality. 

Catalonia and Eurovision 

Catalonia’s connection to Eurovision is a defining yet complex one, rooted in both a strong history with the contest and ongoing questions of identity.  

While Eurovision is often framed around national representation, this can create tension for some in Catalonia, where the Spanish flag doesn’t always feel homely.  

"It's really tricky to link it to the Catalan essence," says Marteen. "Often we don’t feel super comfortable aligning ourselves under the Spanish flag."  

Still, Catalonia has left an undeniable mark on the competition. In this week’s Filling the Sink, we explore Catalonia's history and complicated relationship with the song contest.