The Eurovision song contest: The celebration of queer identity and belonging

Author Identifier (ORCID)

Oscar Vorobjovas-Pinta: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2666-9453

Abstract

These were the opening lyrics of the Slovenian entry Sestre (English: ‘Sisters’) in the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC). I do not speak Slovenian, yet as a 14-year-old growing up in post-Soviet Lithuania, I was mesmerised by the Slovenian drag trio. There was a sense of pride and confusion, and the beginning of questioning my (sexual) identity. From this moment on, the ESC became part of my identity-building and, indeed, life.

Keywords

Eurovision song contest, identity formation, sexual identity, LGBQT identity, popular culture, media influence, adolescence, cultural memory, Eastern Europe, queer studies

Document Type

Book Chapter

Date of Publication

1-1-2026

Publication Title

Tourism, Events and Leisure Perspectives on the Eurovision Song Contest

Publisher

Channel View Publications

School

School of Business and Law

RAS ID

91604

Comments

Vorobjovas-Pinta, O. (2026). The Eurovision song contest: The celebration of queer identity and belonging. In O. Vorobjovas-Pinta & J. Shepherd (Eds.), Tourism, events and leisure perspectives on the Eurovision Song Contest (pp. 132–147). Channel View Publications. https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.32657597.11

Copyright

subscription content

First Page

132

Last Page

147

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.2307/jj.32657597.11