Author: Read with Pride

There are Eurovision moments that sparkle with sequins and pyrotechnics, and then there are moments that hit you straight in the chest with nothing but raw, unfiltered truth. Marija Šerifović’s 2007 performance of “Molitva” was the latter: a vocal powerhouse wrapped in authenticity that didn’t just win the contest, it claimed space for something real …

Molitva: Marija Šerifović's Authentic TriumphRead More

If you’ve ever wondered what pure, unapologetic camp looks like when it takes human form, straps on a disco ball for a hat, and storms the Eurovision stage, well, let me introduce you to Verka Serduchka. Or should I say, reintroduce you? Because this silver-starred legend didn’t just participate in Eurovision 2007. She became Eurovision …

Verka Serduchka: The Uncrowned Queen of CampRead More

When Conchita Wurst took the stage in Copenhagen on May 10, 2014, something shifted in the universe. Austria’s bearded diva didn’t just win the Eurovision Song Contest, she created a cultural earthquake that would ripple across the globe. With 290 points and a voice that could raise the dead, Conchita delivered more than a performance. …

Rise Like a Phoenix: The Legend of Conchita WurstRead More

When Krista Siegfrids took the stage at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden, she wasn’t just representing Finland: she was about to make history. In a moment that would ripple through Eurovision culture and LGBTQ+ advocacy worldwide, she delivered the contest’s first-ever same-sex kiss on stage. It was bold, it was intentional, and …

The Marry Me Kiss: Advocacy on StageRead More

When France announced their 2019 Eurovision entry, they didn’t just send a singer, they sent a statement. Bilal Hassani, a 19-year-old YouTube personality with spectacular wigs and an even more spectacular message, was about to show Europe what it meant to be unapologetically yourself. And honestly? The haters weren’t ready. The Boy Behind the Wig …

Bilal Hassani: Resilience in a WigRead More

Let’s talk about one of Eurovision’s most gloriously chaotic traditions: the Barbara Dex Award. If you’ve ever watched the Eurovision Song Contest and thought, “Wait, did they just walk on stage wearing a literal chandelier?”, this award was for you. The Birth of an Icon (and an Award) Picture this: It’s 1993, and Belgian singer …

The Barbara Dex Award: Celebrating Camp ChaosRead More

When you think Eurovision, you think glitter, drama, and costumes that make Lady Gaga’s meat dress look subtle. But there’s one name that keeps popping up behind the sequins and feathers, Jean Paul Gaultier, the openly gay French designer who’s basically become Eurovision’s fairy godmother. From Dana International’s legendary victory to Conchita Wurst’s bearded beauty …

Eurovision Couture: The Magic of Jean Paul GaultierRead More

When Ryan O’Shaughnessy stepped onto the Eurovision stage in Lisbon on May 8, 2018, he wasn’t just representing Ireland: he was making history. His performance of “Together” featured something Eurovision had never seen on its stage before: a same-sex love story told through dance. Two male dancers, Alan McGrath and Kevin O’Dwyer, performed an achingly …

Together: Ireland's Same-Sex Dance StoryRead More

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t quite fit the mold, whether it’s at work, with family, or just in the world at large, then Netta Barzilai’s 2018 Eurovision winner “Toy” might just be your unofficial anthem. And if you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community, you’ve probably already claimed it as such. The Israeli singer …

Netta's Toy: An Anthem for the MisfitsRead More

May 2024 will forever be etched in Eurovision history: not just because Switzerland finally won after 36 years, but because of who brought home that trophy. Nemo, a 24-year-old non-binary powerhouse, didn’t just win the 68th Eurovision Song Contest. They shattered expectations, broke barriers, and gave the world a masterclass in authenticity with their genre-defying …

Nemo and The Code: A Non-Binary VictoryRead More

When Ireland’s Bambie Thug stepped onto the Eurovision stage in 2024 dressed as a horned demon, surrounded by candles arranged in a pentagram, they weren’t just performing a song: they were making a statement. In a competition often criticized for its sanitized pop offerings, Bambie brought something Eurovision hadn’t seen in years: raw, unapologetic queer …

Bambie Thug: Queering the Alternative StageRead More

Eurovision isn’t just a song contest, it’s a celebration, a safe space, and for many in the LGBTQ+ community, it’s home. And if any contest embodied that truth, it was Malmö 2013. Sweden didn’t just host Eurovision that year; they threw open the doors and said, “Come as you are. We’ve been waiting for you.” …

Unite Us: Malmö's Queer EmbraceRead More

Thirteen years is a long time in pop culture. In 1998, when Dana International won Eurovision with “Diva,” the world was a different place. Trans visibility was minimal, the internet was still finding its feet, and a trans woman winning Europe’s biggest song contest was genuinely revolutionary. So when Dana decided to return to the …

The Queen Returns: Dana International in 2011Read More

When Australia sent Montaigne to Eurovision 2021 with “Technicolour,” they didn’t just send a song: they sent a whole vibe. A kaleidoscopic explosion of queer joy, artistic fearlessness, and the kind of authentic energy that makes Eurovision the cultural phenomenon it is. And honestly? We’re still not over it. Who is Montaigne? Born Jessica Cerro, …

Montaigne: Living Life in TechnicolourRead More

Every year when Eurovision rolls around, millions of viewers across the UK settle in for an evening of camp, chaos, and questionable costume choices. And guiding them through it all with razor-sharp wit and affectionate snark is Graham Norton, the man who transformed Eurovision commentary from a national institution into a queer cultural phenomenon. The …

Graham Norton: The Voice of the CommunityRead More

There are songs that play in the background of our lives, and then there are songs that become our lives. Songs that pulse through the speakers at 2 AM when the dance floor is packed and everyone’s singing along like their heart depends on it. For the queer community, Loreen gave us two of those …

Loreen: The Soundtrack to Our NightsRead More

Eurovision has always been more than just a song contest. It’s a celebration of diversity, a glittering spectacle where sequins meet solidarity, and where the LGBTQ+ community has long found a home. But what happens when this beacon of acceptance lands in a place where being queer isn’t celebrated, it’s condemned? That’s exactly what happened …

Moscow 2009: When Celebration Met RealityRead More

Sometimes the brightest stars are forged in the darkest places. When Hovi Star stepped onto the Eurovision stage in Stockholm on May 14, 2016, representing Israel with his soaring ballad “Made of Stars,” he wasn’t just performing a song, he was rewriting his own narrative. From a bullied kid to a beacon of hope for …

Hovi Star: Shining Through the DarkRead More

When Finland sent Saara Aalto to Lisbon for Eurovision 2018, they weren’t just sending a singer, they were sending a phenomenon. With her song “Monsters,” Aalto stepped onto that iconic stage and delivered a performance that had 180 million viewers captivated, cementing her status as one of the Nordic region’s most beloved pop icons and …

Saara Aalto: Finland's Lesbian Pop RoyaltyRead More

If you’ve ever wondered where Eurovision truly lives and breathes after the cameras stop rolling, the answer is simple: Euroclub. This isn’t just another after-party. It’s a phenomenon, a sanctuary, and quite possibly the queerest place on Earth for one glorious week every May. For over three decades, Euroclub has been the beating heart of …

Inside Euroclub: Where Every Night is PrideRead More