The annual QX Gaygala arranged by Sweden’s LGBT magazine QX was held last night in the Cirkus theatre in Stockholm. The event, held since 2001, features performances, of lots of Eurovision and Melodifestivalen artists (among others) and awards given to important people and icons among the Swedish LGBT community.

Compared to four awards to Melodifestivalen/Eurovision related acts in 2016, this year’s gala featured no less than seven awards given to the Eurovision community. They are:

• Gay/Bi of the year: Oscar Zia (Melodifestivalen 2014/2016 participant)
• Drag of the year: After Dark (Melodifestivalen 2004/2007/2016 participant)
• Duo of the year: Petra Mede & Måns Zelmerlöw (Hosts of Eurovision 2016)
• Swedish TV program of the year: Eurovision Song Contest 2016
• Non-Swedish song of the year: Justin Timberlake – Can’t stop the feeling (Eurovision 2016 interval act)
• Show of the year: After Dark – This is it
• Book of the year: Christer Lindarw – This is my life (Lead artist of After Dark)

Nominated to the various prizes were also Edward af Sillén, Viktor Frisk, and last year’s Eurovision interval act Love love peace peace.

Oscar Zia performing Human at the final of Melodifestivalen 2016

“It feels awesome. It’s a very special prize to win, I think. It’s not my prize, but the prize of the readers. They are the ones who voted. But I haven’t done anything, I just told my own story and who I am, but it helped people. I got this response which I am very happy and proud about.”, said Oscar Zia to the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet.