Nemo criticizes Eurovision after his victory: "I had to sneak in the flag of my non-binary gender"

BarcelonaNemo's Eurovision win would have been a moment of celebration and euphoria, but for those who represented Switzerland it was an opportunity to put on the table the shortcomings regarding freedom of expression in the contest. Although Eurovision is a symbol of sexual liberation and diversity, Nemo has found the limits of this maxim. The interpreter of The code He explained in the subsequent press conference that he had to sneak the non-binary gender flag, with which he identifies, into the contest after the organization told him he could not show it.

Just ten years ago the singer Conchita Wurst obtained first position in the contest despite the reluctance generated in some countries by the fact that she was allowed to compete. drag queen. This year a similar story has repeated itself. Although in the 2024 edition – with all eyes focused on the participation of Israel and the veto of the contestant from the Netherlands – Nemo's participation has not generated any fuss, Eurovision vetoed the flag of people who identify with the gender nonbinary.

Despite the ban, Nemo carried two flags during the festival's opening ceremony, known as the Flag Parade.: that of their country, Switzerland, as is customary in the national representation of each contestant, and the yellow, white, lilac and black, with the colors that represent the non-binary gender. "I have had to sneak my non-binary gender flag because Eurovision told me that I couldn't take it out. Even so, I have taken it and I hope other people do too," he said in the round after the victory in the final.

The non-binary gender flag was not Switzerland's only artist symbol at Eurovision. Your song, The code, is a personal account of her experience with gender identity and the process of self-discovery until realizing she is a non-binary person. Nemo's proposal, which combines hip-hop influences with elements of classical music such as The magic Flute, was embraced by many of the festival's spectators and fans.

More problems with flags

The conflict that Nemo has revealed is not the only one that Eurovision has had linked to a flag. The vice president of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, was amazed that the festival also did not allow European Union flags to pass. "Eurovision is, first and foremost, a celebration of the European spirit, of our diversity and talent. The EU flag is a symbol of this. With the European elections less than a month away there should be no obstacles, big or small. , to celebrate the unity of all Europeans", is the text that Schinas spread in X on the same day of the festival.

The text referred to the tweet published by the advisor of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party, the Moldovan Dorin Frasineanu. In the message, which has accumulated more than 3.4 million retweets, Frasineanu explained that security agents had banned the European flag because it was considered a "political" element that "was not allowed." Eurovision hides behind the fact that they have always defended that it is a non-political event and that elements that represent any type of claim cannot be displayed.