Eurovision contestants show solidarity with LGBTQ+ fans: ‘The queers are representing’

Eurovision kicked off with a powerful display of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, with contestants walking out on stage with Pride and trans flags.

The artists representing Australia and the Netherlands brought Pride flags onto the Eurovision stage in Turin, Italy, at the grand final on Saturday night (14 May).

Meanwhile, Iceland’s entry was seen carrying a trans Pride flag – all three were showered with praise by Eurovision fans for putting queerness front and centre at the event.

The contestants’ show of LGBTQ+ solidarity and support came during the flag parade. Most entrants chose to walk out carrying their countries’ flags, with Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra winning huge applause from the audience when they walked out bearing the Ukrainian colours.

LGBTQ+ Eurovision fans heap praise on queer contestants

Twitter immediately went into overdrive, with LGBTQ+ Eurovision fans rushing to heap praise on Australia’s Sheldon Riley, Iceland’s Systur and the Netherlands’ S10 for bringing LGBTQ+ representation into the mix.

TRANS FLAG SPOTTED VOTE ICELAND NOW VOTE ICELANF FUCKING NOW #Eurovision pic.twitter.com/0TC5WZkWLJ

— Markus 🎗️ WATCH MOB PSYCHO 100 (@SootMarkus) May 14, 2022

THERE WAS A TRANS FLAG!! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️#Eurovision

— Joe 🏳️‍🌈💙🍂 (@TheJoeHarper_) May 14, 2022

The BBC showing someone waving a trans flag??? #Eurovision pic.twitter.com/aq7x9rwGaT

— AJ, Monika Liu appreciator 🇱🇹🇮🇸🇺🇦🇲🇩 (@uisgebeatha) May 14, 2022

Iceland with a trans flag at Eurovision we love 🏳️‍⚧️❤️

— Federico Ripley (@federicoripley) May 14, 2022

Eye spy three LGBT pride flags and one trans pride flag. The queers are representing tonight. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ ✨ #Eurovision

— Liam Beattie (@Liam_Beattie) May 14, 2022

The Netherlands with a pride flag and Iceland with transflags. I Stan the right countries. #Eurovision

— Sharon👩‍🚀🇬🇧🇸🇪🇪🇪Jinkx Monsoon stanaccount (@scgd2203) May 14, 2022

the pride flags :’) #Eurovision

— Ieah (@pitbullstan69) May 14, 2022

Iceland’s entry Systur is made up of three sisters, Sigga, Beta and Elín. All three have been vocal in their support for the trans community – particularly trans children.

“We are trying to be supportive and tell people, mostly parents, all over the world, that you should love your child unconditionally,” the group is quoted as saying on the Eurovision website.

“No matter how they are, they should be loved; they should be protected. That’s what’s gonna make this world so much better. If children have the space they need, they are gonna make our world more loving and more accepting.

“It’s our part to play that they get the path that they need cleared. We see you and we love you and there’s hope out there.”

Meanwhile, Australia’s representative Sheldon Riley is performing the song “Not the Same”, which touches on his experience growing up autistic and queer.

“I was told for a long time that I wouldn’t be able to execute myself as a normal functioning human being, to get work or have friends or have a partner,” he told SBS News.