Eurovision is one of the biggest nights of the year for many LGBTQ+ venues across the UK, offering an opportunity for a joyful party celebrating music and high camp.
Celebrations will be mixed this year, however, after a number of high-profile events were cancelled in protest at Israel’s participation.
Viewing parties in London and Brighton have been called off, while campaigners in Bristol have called for venues continuing with Eurovision events to be picketed.
Crystal, a drag performer who had been due to host a party for 800 people in east London, said they had cancelled the event in protest at Israel’s inclusion, which they said crossed a “red line”.
“I am someone who has my whole life been concerned about Palestinian solidarity,” Crystal said. “But like many of us I have been more and more energised by what we’ve seen over the last few months.”
They said cancelling had not been an easy decision. “I am obviously very empathetic to venues that are stuck between trying to keep their doors open and also trying to do the right thing. And it’s a shame that it’s always the queer venues and the queer artists that take the brunt of these decisions. But I would say overall, the community has been very, very supportive.”
Earlier this week the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, a leading LGBTQ+ venue in London, announced it was calling off its planned Eurovision party, saying: “We stand with all victims of violence on the ground in Gaza and call for an immediate ceasefire. We continue to educate ourselves on the situation.”
That followed the cancellation in March of London’s biggest viewing event, Eurovision Party London (EPL), which had been due to be held at the Rio cinema in east London. In a now deleted post, the venue said that while EPL had been a “beloved partner” for many years, it would not stage the event due to Israel’s participation.
“We will continue to organise fundraising events for the charities we support, including Doctors Without Borders and Medical Aid for Palestine,” it said.
In Brighton, the Duke of York cinema called off its Eurovision event this week, telling ticket holders it was doing so “due to safety concerns for our staff and customers”. The Brighton Palestinian Solidarity Campaign called the decision a “massive win”.
While a number of other venues and pubs in the city have also cancelled events after pressure from campaigners, some events are still due to go ahead.
The European Broadcasting Union, which produces the competition, has defended its decision not to bar Israel, saying it is “not a competition between governments”.
It said: “We urge everyone to engage in respectful and constructive dialogue and support the artists who are working tirelessly – on what is a music and entertainment show – to share their music with the world.”
Israel was required to change the lyrics of its original entry, which was understood to refer to the 7 October attacks. A public vote at Thursday’s semi-final secured the country a place in Saturday’s final.
The country has been competing in Eurovision since 1973 and has won four times, most recently in 2018.
