Every year, the Eurovision Song Contest delivers more than glitter, modulated falsettos, and viral dance breaks. Beneath the sequins lies something deeper: a powerful stage where masculinity can be questioned, stretched, and redefined — often in front of hundreds of millions of viewers. For many men — especially queer men — Eurovision has become a rare cultural moment where it's not only safe to be different, but celebrated for it.

At first glance, the Eurovision Song Contest might seem like little more than sparkle, spectacle, and the occasional key change catastrophe. But beneath the rhinestones lies something far more radical: a global stage where masculinity isn’t just performed — it’s reimagined.

For decades, Eurovision has been a space where men can embrace softness, sensuality, flamboyance, tenderness, and power — often all in the same three-minute set. And whether through a shimmering ball gown or a stripped-down piano ballad, these performers aren't just entertaining. They're teaching us what manhood can be when it’s freed from the box it’s so often shoved into.

Many LGBTQIA+ Catholic groups and individuals have responded to Leo XIV’s election with a mix of hope and concern. Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA, expressed optimism following his remarks about God’s unconditional love and the need for the Church to embrace all people. Others, like Francis DeBernardo of New Ways Ministry, have called for Pope Leo to build on the groundwork laid by Francis, urging him to “lead the church through that door” of inclusion.

Discover “Profiles in Progress: The Leaders Reshaping AI and LGBTQ+ Digital Safety,” a feature spotlighting the trailblazers and organizations driving safer, more inclusive digital spaces for LGBTQ+ communities. Learn how GLAAD’s Social Media Safety Program, led by Jenni Olson, holds tech giants accountable through the Social Media Safety Index, and how groups like Forbidden Colours and innovators like Annie Brown of Lips are challenging algorithmic bias and advocating for ethical AI. Explore the impact of legal advocates like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and meet LGBTQ+ tech leaders breaking barriers in the industry. Stay informed on the latest research, watchdog reports, and platform innovations shaping the future of digital safety and LGBTQ+ rights

When queer creators and sexual health educators find their content flagged, demonetized, or outright erased by social media algorithms, it’s not just a technical glitch-it’s a systemic problem. As Jenni Olson of GLAAD has pointed out, “If you don’t have LGBT people, people of color at the table giving the inputs to the AI systems, then they will be racist and homophobic and so on.” The question is: Who is fighting back, and how are they changing the system?

It starts with a simple search. A teenager, perhaps in a small town, types “transgender health resources” into a social platform’s search bar. Instead of finding answers, they’re met with a warning, or worse, silence. This isn’t a glitch-it’s the result of algorithmic moderation systems that, in the name of “safety,” are disproportionately filtering out LGBTQ+ and sexual health educational content.