Non-binary Eurovision winner Nemo condemns Pride flag ban

Eurovision winner Nemo has criticised the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for not taking its “responsibility” toward LGBTQ+ individuals seriously by implementing rules that ban Pride flags, according to ‘MSN’.

It was recently confirmed that this year’s Eurovision contestants and their teams are prohibited from bringing any flag other than their country's flag to any official Eurovision event. This rule effectively prevents participants from displaying any variation of the Pride flag at the St. Jakobshalle arena in Basel, as well as in the Green Room, Eurovision Village stage, Flag Parade, or Turquoise Carpet.

This new rule follows the event where Nemo, who was the groundbreaking non-binary entrant from Switzerland and eventually won the contest last year, had to “smuggle” a non-binary flag into the Flag Parade after being initially forbidden.

Reflecting on the incident, the ‘The Code’ singer revealed they had to discreetly bring the flag after being told it was prohibited. In an interview, Nemo expressed their “confusion” over the new guidelines and feels the EBU is neglecting Eurovision’s significant LGBTQ+ fanbase by restricting LGBTQ+ artists from celebrating with Pride flags. “At this point, I’m very confused,” stated the 25-year-old artist.

Recalling, Nemo said, “Last year… I was preparing my non-binary flag and I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to go with the Swiss flag and the non-binary flag’ and then someone was like, ‘Oh sorry, you can’t take that in, it’s forbidden on stage’ and I was like, ‘OK, I’m just going to keep quiet and put it somewhere where no one can see it’.” After Nemo’s victory, official Eurovision social media posted photos of them with the non-binary flag, despite being told it wasn't permitted to display.

“Like, that’s so dumb. And then they put out a statement saying like, ‘It was always allowed,’ basically, and there was never a rule against it. I’m like, OK good, so we can move forward now and this will not be an issue. Now, this year, they’re actively saying that it’s not allowed anymore even though Switzerland would have no problem with it.”

Under the new EBU flag policy, while Eurovision participants need to carry only their national flags, fans and spectators can bring different types of flags into Eurovision venues, provided they adhere to Swiss law and don’t promote discrimination or incite hatred.

“I just don’t get it. I think I’m just confused by the decision-making process and what the intention behind it is,” Nemo continued. Although the singer agrees that certain harmful flags should be banned from Eurovision events, they believe the EBU should permit pro-LGBTQ+ flags. “It has to make sense. You can’t be known for being the queerest thing in Europe basically, and then be like, ‘We don’t allow Pride flags.’ It just doesn’t make sense to me, especially in this time.”

Nemo urged the EBU to “take a stance right now” and assume “responsibility,” given the significant presence of queer individuals at Eurovision. “It just kind of makes me sad, I guess, that this responsibility doesn’t seem to be taken.”

Nemo commented on how “intimidating” it would have been if there were measures like personal searches to prevent them from bringing a Pride flag onto the stage. Currently, the EBU has stated that there will be “consequences” for contestants who break the flag rules but did not detail what those consequences might be, nor how the rules will be enforced. “I wouldn’t want to be patted down right before I go on stage,” said Nemo. “I think that would make me feel like I’m doing something wrong. Let’s see if everyone follows the rules this year or not. Excited for further developments.”