Pride

AVROTROS objects to the decision of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to ban pride flags at the Eurovision Song Contest. According to the broadcaster, the flag is not a political statement.

The broadcaster made the decision after consultation with the interest group COC. Both parties believe that the ban on the rainbow flag sends the wrong message. “Especially in these times, when the human rights of the LGBTQIA+ community are under pressure, it is not a good signal to ban these flags at the Song Contest,” says the COC, which describes the conversation with AVROTROS as “pleasant and constructive”.

The EBU previously determined that participants may only display flags of the country they represent in official places, such as the stage and the Green Room. AVROTROS wants pride flags to fall outside this policy. “We would like to see if we can get something moving. We hope that the EBU is open to that.”

AVROTROS had previously supported the general flag ban, but emphasized that the change of course was not a result of the conversation with the COC. “We previously indicated that we regretted that flags were banned from the rainbow community.” Source: nu.nl.