Eurovision Bosses Stand Their Ground Amid Backlash Over New Pride Flag Rule

Italian singer Marco Mengoni waves a Progress Pride flag on stage at Eurovision in Liverpool back in 2023Eurovision bosses are not budging on the issue of Pride flags ahead of this year’s live event.It was revealed last week that fans at the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest would be able to bring any flag they like with them into the arena (including the flag of Palestine and the Pride flags of underrepresented groups within the LGBTQ+ community), so long as they don’t break any laws.This was in contrast to last year’s event, where only the flags of competing countries and the standard six-stripe rainbow Pride flag were permitted.However, these rules have not been extended to the competing acts, who are only allowed to wave the flag of the country they’re representing, both on stage at Eurovision and in other “official spaces”.The decision for Pride flags to not be allowed on stage at Eurovision 2025 was a controversial one, given the contest’s strong LGBTQ+ fanbase, with The Netherlands’ national broadcaster Avrotros appealing to organisers to relax this rule in the run-up to this year’s live final.Icelandic group Systur waved the rainbow and trans Pride flags on stage in Italy in 2022However, according to Eurovoix, bosses have insisted their decision is not one that will be reversed.A statement from Avrotros said: “Although we think this is a missed opportunity, we – like the other 36 countries – respect the rules that now apply for this year. “We are now focusing on the connecting power of music, in the conviction that the dialogue about visibility and representation is best conducted together and with a long-term view.”HuffPost UK has contacted Eurovision’s organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for comment.The upcoming Eurovision Song Contest is once again at the centre of controversy due to the continued presence of Israel in the competition.In the last few weeks, the EBU has also responded to questions from three countries’ national broadcasters about Israel’s involvement, as well as an open letter from more than 70 artists and musicians who have been involved in Eurovision in the past calling for Israel’s national broadcaster to be banned from competing, in solidarity with Palestine.MORE EUROVISION:Have Flags Actually Been Banned At This Year's Eurovision? Here's What's Really Going OnEurovision Bosses Respond To Former Contestants' Calls For Israel To Be Removed From ContestOlly Alexander Has Some Very Blunt Advice For This Year's UK Eurovision Act

Comments

Breaking news

Health Secretary Neil Gray to abstain on assisted dying Bill vote in Holyrood

The Herald

Comments

Similar News

Eurovision act Remember Monday: 'The closer we get, the hungrier we become'

Eurovision is here, and Final Destination returns: What's coming up this week

Swiss host city Basel promises 'everyone is welcome' at Eurovision

How to win Eurovision, according to the experts

UK's Eurovision hopefuls Remember Monday ordered by the BBC to avoid making any political points after band's old social media posts backing Black Lives Matter come to light

Magic spells, innuendo and riddles: Your guide to all 37 Eurovision songs

Iconic band reveal they turned down representing Britain at Eurovision before organisers asked McFly... who also said no!

Brotherhood of Man singer Martin Lee who won Eurovision with Save Your Kisses For Me left surprising amount after he died aged 77

Reigning Eurovision Winner Nemo Backs Calls For Israel To Be Excluded From This Year's Contest

Eurovision Bosses Respond To Former Contestants' Calls For Israel To Be Removed From Contest

Eurovision Stars Co-Sign Open Letter Calling For Israel's Removal From The Contest

Home of Ukraine Eurovision contestant destroyed by Russian shelling

Home of Ukrainian Eurovision contestant destroyed

Fans slam 'ridiculous' new Eurovision policy that will ban some flags from stage

Yuval survived the October 7 massacre by playing dead. Now she is bravely facing another onslaught of hate as Israel's Eurovision star

Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa announced as UK’s Eurovision spokesperson

Eurovision Bosses Speak Out After 3 National Broadcasters Question Israel's Involvement

Have Flags Actually Been Banned At Eurovision 2025? Here's What's Really Going On

Eurovision star Nemo takes action after UK court ruling on transgender women

3 National Broadcasters Have Now Questioned Israel’s Participation In Eurovision 2025

Breaking news

Health Secretary Neil Gray to abstain on assisted dying Bill vote in Holyrood

Two new restaurants to open in Glasgow Airport as part of £3.7 million investment

Four charged after mum killed by falling bricks on her way to son’s nursery

Driver jailed for 22 years for chasing down and killing ‘showboating’ e-bike rider

Virginia Giuffre’s lawyer never thought Epstein accuser would take her own life

Woman found dead at Scots flat as police probe 'unexplained' death

Mum dies for 33 minutes during routine op and lives without pulse for 6 weeks

Little-known dangers of helium balloons after mum makes desperate plea over son's death

Gas explosion destroys home as family 'left with nothing'

Kate Forbes to vote against Assisted Dying but campaigners 'confident' of securing victory in landmark vote

Expert issues scam website alert for anyone who needs travel card

Be in the audience for BBC Scotland's Debate Night political discussion show in Dumfries

Decision on partial Kirkcudbright Bridge re-opening expected by May 16

School pay tribute to 'one in a million' ex-teaching assistant found dead in Glasgow home

Woman slams parents for 'embarrassing' name with nickname she 'hates even more'

Husband caught cheating on pregnant wife with her mum - and he fathered her siblings

Couple buy French village for €80k after growing tired of UK rat race

Police search for teenager last seen on beach in swim shorts

What are Sir Keir Starmer's new immigration rules?

Driver who murdered e-bike rider to 'teach him a lesson' is jailed

Why Trump blinked in US-China trade war

Crossbow attack suspect died from 'self-inflicted gunshot', inquest hears

Beyoncé Cowboy Carter tour reviews call concerts 'masterwork' and 'powerful'

Search for missing 'vulnerable' boy, 16, last seen on popular UK beach two days ago

Brits urged to leave loft hatch open for next 11 days as 'mini-heatwave' hits

Cardiologist shares five ways to cut your heart attack risk - and they are all free

James Bulger killer Jon Venables goes for parole AGAIN and may be free by end of year

Cyclist murdered by driver who rammed him for showing off and pulling wheelie

Clubber who killed 'hero' dad by punching him outside nightclub jailed for manslaughter

Do you support Keir Starmer's crackdown on immigration? Take our poll and have your say

Feed lavender four kitchen scraps to make it 'flower more' this summer

One in four Brits have eaten the same snacks for more than a decade

Brit, 18, fighting for life after falling from third-floor Ibiza apartment

Moment chaos breaks out on flight as passenger opens emergency exit 'to get some air'

Hounslow fire: Smoke billows into sky as fire crews tackle house blaze

Kate Middleton hugs William and issues heartfelt message in deeply personal new video

Seaside city is home to 'longest high street' in UK but not everyone loves it

Wearers ‘always get so many compliments’ on Michael Kors fragrance now axed to half-price

The ONE alternative treatment that brought my autistic son back to me: Desperate, I spent $70,000 trying every 'fix' I could find. Right as I was about to give up, he said words that brought me to tears

Brothers and sister of £18million health drinks tycoon win bid to battle his Maltese lover for a share of his fortune

Bridgerton's Luke Newton packs on the PDA with stunning girlfriend Antonia Roumelioti as they exit the TV BAFTA Awards - days after making their romance Instagram official

SHANE WATSON: I'm a fashion expert. This is the anti-ageing £22.99 H&M dress that EVERY 50-something woman needs this summer

DR MAX PEMBERTON: My four crucial tips to fix a family fall-out that David and Victoria Beckham MUST follow

My brother was bludgeoned to death by his new wife and her FBI agent father - she tormented her stepchildren with lies about their dad before she killed him

How Marisa Abela revived her career after THAT Amy Winehouse biopic: Industry actress came back from cancer and faced lousy reviews before beating huge names to storm the BAFTAs

The truth behind photo of Volodymyr Zelensky as people think he 'wore his trousers backwards'

Brit, 18, is fighting for life after falling from third-floor apartment in Ibiza

Burglar, 27, murdered pensioner, 69, in own home days after release from prison in cocaine-fuelled knife rampage, boasting 'my name is Blades because I stab people'

Joe Thompson funeral: Dion Dublin and ex-Man United youth stars pay respects to former football who died aged 36 after cancer battle

Everyday household appliance could be an incubator for bacteria - here's how to prevent it

Bite, lick or nibble? What your ice cream style says about your personality

I sat in my basement for 18 years injecting myself with snake venom. This is why I did it - and why everyone should thank me

Stacey Solomon transforms her wedding dress into a playsuit while Vicky Pattison dyes hers yellow as they re-work their bridal gowns for sustainable BAFTAs

Kate Middleton reveals how she turned to nature during cancer battle as she launches exciting new project with unseen wedding anniversary footage

Artist who had multiple orgasms in public museum reveals the 'terrible' effect it had on her

Road rage driver, 19, who murdered e-bike rider, 22, by ramming into him to 'teach him a lesson' jailed for life

Insiders reveal why Trump should NOT speak of his lavish Gaza 'riviera' plans during crucial Middle East trip