Russia’s anti-gay lobby slams Eurovision Song Contest winner Conchita Wurst
RUSSIA slams the Eurovision Song Contest victor Conchita Wurst, as Austria’s “bearded lady” gets a heroine’s welcome in Vienna.
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IT’S the place where homophobia goes to die - but not this year.
After taking home the coveted title at the Eurovision Song Contest, Austria’s “bearded lady”, aka Conchita Wurst, has copped a slew of abuse for her less than traditional performing style.
In a bitter aftertaste, the singer’s stunning victory has been branded “the end of Europe” by Russia’s anti-gay lobby.
The hirsute alter ego of Austrian performer Tom Neuwirth took out the competition in Copenhagen with Rise Like a Phoenix, an anthem reminiscent of classic James Bond theme tunes.
Social media went into overdrive overnight after BBC Eurovision’s page posted in honour of the “gender neutral” performer.
But in an unexpected twist, users instead posted shocking grievances against the performer, calling to “wake up Hitler” and “kill it with fire”.
“I believe in future without “things” like these”, wrote one user.
“Go and kill yourself”, said another.
“The most messed up thing I’ve seen on TV. I can already tell the Eurovision 2015 winner. It’ll be a song about love between an old woman with a 6-year-old boy and they’ll end up kissing on stage. Easy win. Or a gay couple kissing. The world’s changing. Going so wrong.”
Among the posts were calls for the BBC to ensure homophobic abuse “is not tolerated”, but it took other users to step up in Conchita’s honour.
“I’m disgusted by the comments on this post honestly,” wrote Jordan Jon.
“Just when you think the future is getting better with LGBT, this comes up.”
But the “bearded lady” received a heroine’s homecoming in Vienna after winning the Eurovision Song Contest.
After the win, hundreds of excited fans gathered at Vienna’s International Airport to welcome Conchita — who was clutching her Eurovision trophy tightly — back to home soil.
But in Russia, some branded Wurst‘s win as an example of the West’s decadence.
After the victory, Russian state television broadcast a debate on Conchita, with anti-gay MP Vladmir Zhirinovsky calling the result “the end of Europe.”
“There is no limit to our outrage,” he said.
“It has turned wild. There are no more men or women in Europe, just it.”
The competition was marred by controversy over widespread persecution of gay people by Russia’s vocal anti-gay lobby, and its apparent sanctioning by the gonvernment.
Wurst’s inclusion adding oil to that fire even before the show; and during the final there was loud booing in the Copenhagen arena whenever Russia’s act received a vote.
Afterward, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s vice-premier Dmitry Rogozin tweeted that the Eurovision result “showed supporters of European integration their European future — a bearded girl”.
The drag queen, who was initially written off as too provocative for some socially conservative countries, was the favourite to win the contest.
The act proved so popular that Austria was declared the winner after 34 of 37 countries had given their votes on Saturday evening.
After being announced as the winner, Wurst said: “This night is dedicated to everyone who believes in a future of peace and freedom.”
She added: “We are a unity and we are unstoppable”.
Conchita’s inclusion in the Eurovision Song Contest had earlier angered some of the more conservative nations.
In Russia, Belarus and Ukraine petitioners demanded that the 25-year-old drag artist be dropped from the competition, while the leader of Austria’s right-wing FPOe party called the act “ridiculous”.
“I have very thick skin,” Wurst told AFP. “It never ceases to amaze me just how much fuss is made over a little facial hair.”
Much like the title of her song, the singer on Friday rose to second place in the odds table after winning over viewers with her performance in Thursday’s semi-final.
Earlier in the week the frontrunner had been Armenia’s Aram MP3, who stirred controversy when it was reported that he had said Wurst’s lifestyle was “not natural” — a comment the stand-up comedian later claimed was a joke.
“I have to say that if it’s a joke it’s not funny ... but he apologised and that’s fine for me,” Wurst said.
Since the first votes were cast in 1956, Eurovision results have been closely intertwined with politics and the 2014 competition is no exception.
Audiences in Britain and France routinely complain that their countries suffer from a lack of European voting allies and tend to take the competition less seriously than the countries of the former eastern bloc that joined in the 1990s.
“Everything could be political but we don’t really care, because we are artists and what we are doing is music,” said Lorent Idir from France’s Twin Twin.
The mainstream appeal of the Eurovision Song Contest has grown over the past two decades after strict rules on singing in the national language and performing with an orchestra were scrapped.
It has also benefitted from the popularity of TV talent shows, and several of this year’s artists have previously competed in programs like The X Factor.
And Australia’s love affair with the show was honoured this year, with the inclusion of Jess Mauboy singing Sea of Flags as a special guest at the second semi-final.
Who do you think should have won? Tell us below.
Originally published as Russia’s anti-gay lobby slams Eurovision Song Contest winner Conchita Wurst
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