Russian, Armenian Petitions Seek Drag Performer's Removal From Eurovision

Austria’s choice of bearded drag performer Conchita Wurst to compete for the country at the annual Eurovision Song Contest has several antigay nations hitting a sour note.

Austria’s controversial choice in contestants for this year’s annual Eurovision Song Contest – the bearded drag queen known as Conchita Wurst – has upset several Eastern European competing countries, which have called for Wurst’s removal, reports Reuters.

Eurovision, which is known throughout Europe for its massive gay following, launched the careers not only of well-known musical acts such as ABBA and Celine Dion but also transgender Israeli singer Dana International, who took home the top honors at the contest in 1998.

However, countries with prevailing antigay attitudes, including Armenia, Belarus, and Russia, have launched online petitions to have Wurst either removed from the competition or edited out of the Eurovision television broadcasts in their homelands.

Wurst, whose real name is Tom Neuwirth, has even drawn criticism from other Eurovision contenders, including Armenian contestant Aram MP3, who said Wurst’s way of life was “not natural,” then backpedaled and claimed his comments were in jest.

http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/music/2014/04/28/russian-armenian-petitions-seek-drag-performers-removal