Inclusivity and Adversity at the Eurovision Song Contest: LGBTQI+ communities experiences of safety and citizenship.

Conference: European Society of Criminology Annual Conference

Dates: 6-9 September 2023

Abstract:

The Eurovision Song Content (Eurovision) is an annual ‘mega-event’ on a par with the Olympics in terms of its media coverage and number of viewers. It has been running since 1956, established by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) following the second world war, ostensibly as a method of promoting peace and uniting European nations. The last 30 years has seen Eurovision transform into a site of gay and transgender visibility and representation, originating through its transnational fan cultures in 1997-98 and emerging as a key location of equality and non-discrimination among lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex and other minority (LGBTQI+) groups since the turn of the century. Fan culture has a significant function in the growth and success of Eurovision and fan ‘tourism’ at Eurovision plays an important role too, as the event rotates across countries each year. Significant research has explored narratives of national identity and ‘Europeanness’ (e.g. Baker, 2017) but less is known about the function of Eurovision to promote gender-inclusivity to wider national and international communities and fans’ experiences of safety and security. This paper will present findings from LGBTQI+ communities experiences of the 2023 Eurovision Contest that took place in Liverpool, England, in May. Data collected through fan surveys and observations at the event will be considered in this paper, which examine attitudes, perceptions and practices at Eurovision. Given the growth in policy and media debate around the rights of trans individuals and communities, increased rates of victimisation towards these communities, and the divergence of pro- and anti-trans feminist movements of late, this paper discusses whether Eurovision can continue to be a site of inclusivity, safety and LGBTQI+ ‘citizenship’ for minority communities.

Source: Manual