urovision star Netta has called protesting for LGBT rights at Pride a “matter of life and death,” as she shared how her 2018 win helped a trans fan come out.
The pop star is one of the headliners at Pride in London as the event celebrates its 50th anniversary on Saturday.
Speaking to the Standard beforehand, she said she was most proud of her 2018 competition-winning performance with the song Toy, because of the way it inspired others, including a young LGBT fan.
“She came up to me and told me she didn’t even understand what I was saying,” she said.
“But the energy of what she saw in the video, and the energy of the song and the voice, made her believe she can be who she wants to be.
“And this was what was great… to change someone’s life or make it a little bit better. It’s something I didn’t know how I got the chance and privilege to do.”
Audience members watch during the 2019 Pride in London Parade in central London (Dominic Lipinsky/PA)
† PA archiveThe 29-year-old singer said she was “excited” to perform in front of hundreds of thousands of people, adding “the atmosphere in the air is very festive”.
“When I sing, I can say what I feel. It’s the best way for me to explain and share energy and direct other people to a happy frequency,” she said.
But she added that Pride this year was even more important than ever before due to “very dark” events — saying “you can never be loud enough about injustice” in the world.
“If we stop celebrating Pride then I’m afraid to say rights could disappear,” she said.
“If we sleep on it overnight, it can run away from us. And I feel it’s so important that this protest is so alive, it’s crucial to who we are as people. It’s a matter of life and death.”
Asked about her large LGBT fan base, she said, “I always say I’m a very straight girl with a very gay story.”
The Israeli artist told how she was bullied as a child and felt she didn’t belong.
“I believed everything they told me. I believed that I am not worthy of love, I am not worthy of friends,” she said.
“Because when you’re rejected, you believe there’s something wrong with you. And it took a very long time to get this out.
“When I reached the age of 18, I realized there is nothing wrong with me. Life is what you make of it.”
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to take to the streets of the capital to participate in the parade or to be spectators.
The event marks the 50th anniversary since the first UK Pride in 1972 and is the first in-person event in two years.
Other stars who will perform alongside Netta on four stages, including Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square, include Emeli Sandé and Ava Max.